[Citrate values in the whole blood of patients with malignant tumors of various locations].

Based on reports on elevated concentrations of 2-oxoglutarate in the blood of human subjects with tumors of various locations, data are presented on the concentration of citrate and pyruvate in the whole blood of 41 patients with malignant tumors (mainly of the female breast and of the digestive tract), 30 patients with benign surgical diseases and 12 healthy subjects. Adopting a level of significance of 2P=0.10 differences of concentration were found between the following collectives: (1) The mean value of citrate for the patients in tumor stage T4 was decreased by 23%, compared with healthy persons, and by 19%, compared with patients with benign surgical diseases. (2) The mean value of pyruvate for the patients with malignant tumors was increased by 40%, compared with healthy subjects and by 17%, compared with patients with benign surgical diseases. (3) The maximum of the pyruvate concentration was reached in tumor stage T3, where an increase of 52% was noted, compared with healthy subjects. (4) The pyruvate value of the patients with tumors of the digestive tract was increased by 34%, compared with healthy subjects. With regard to the total group of patients with malignant tumors, even with a low level of significance, no differences in citrate values were found as compared with the control groups. Thus the results do not indicate a disturbance of the citric acid cycle in the organism of tumor bearing hosts in general.