muramidase and Pleural-Effusion--Malignant

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death over the world. Although new diagnostic methods have been discovered, new biomarkers of the cancer are still under studying. A human chitinolytic enzyme called chitotriosidase hydrolyzes chitin and chitotrioside substrates. It is specifically expressed by activating macrophages and seems to play a role in the defense against chitinous human pathogens. Recently it has been shown that chitotriosidase may also attend to the inflammatory process. The aim of the study was to determine chitotriosidase activity in serum of patients with lung cancer and patients with inflammatory exudate. We studied the usefulness of the above parameter determination in differentiation between lung cancer and inflammation. In addition, serum activity of lysozyme and cathepsin H was determined.. The study included 17 patients with inflammatory pleural exudate--group 1., 40 lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion--group 2. and 37 healthy subjects. All the patients of group 2. were divided into 2 subgroups: 2A without metastases (n = 23) and 2B with metastases (n = 17). Chitotriosidase and cathepsin H activity was determined in serum by a fluorometric methods. Serum lysozyme activity was measured by turbidimetric method with Micrococcus luteus as substrate.. We observed an increase of the chitotriosidase activity in serum patients of both studied group in comparison with the control. The activity of the chitotriosidase in lung cancer patients was significantly higher than in the control (36.7 vs 68.1 nmol/ml/h; p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in serum lysozyme and cathepsin H activity in patients in comparison to healthy subjects.. The results suggest that activity of the chitotriosidase can not be used to differentiation between inflammation and cancer in lung.

Topics: Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cathepsin H; Cathepsins; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Hexosaminidases; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Muramidase; Pleural Effusion; Pleural Effusion, Malignant; Pleurisy

The level of ADA, LZM, leukocyte count, lymphocyte in tuberculous effusion is higher than that of carcinomatous effusion (P < 0.05). All results showed that the change of multiple parameters is related to the pathological manifestation of pleurae. The false positive or negative result was influenced by pathological appearance and bloody character of pleural effusion. Using the ADA, LZM cut off value at 35U and 30mg, respectively, and pleural/serum ADA ratio > 1.4, LZM > 1.1, a sensitivity and specificity of 100 percent were achieved.

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biopsy; Clinical Enzyme Tests; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Pleura; Pleural Effusion, Malignant; Pleural Neoplasms; Tuberculosis, Pleural