Adenosine deaminase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase activities in peripheral lymphocytes from patients with solid tumours.

M Russo,G Apice,R Giancane,B Galanti

doi:10.1038/bjc.1981.28

Abstract

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured in 34 patients with various types of solid tumours. The mean ADA activity was found to be significantly lower than in controls (P less than 0.005). Patients with nonresectable tumour or with recurrence after radical surgery showed low ADA levels, while patients operated upon and without recurrence had enzymatic activity not different from that of normal controls. The mean value of PNP activity was similar to that of normal controls; no differences were observed between operated patients without recurrence and cases with nonresectable tumour or with recurrence after surgical treatment. No effects on ADA and PNP levels appeared to be induced by chemotherapy.

Highlights

Summary.-Adenosine deaminase (ADA) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured in 34 patients with various types of solid tumours
Low ADA levels were reported in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (Tung et al, 1976) and in liver cirrhosis (Galanti et al, 1978)
Heparinized peripheral blood was diluted 1:1 with Hanks' solution and layered on to a Ficollpatients are reported in Table I, which shows that the mean ADA activity of 34 tumour patients is significantly lower (P < 0.005) than that of normal controls

Summary

FROM PATIENTS WITH SOLID TUMOURS

Patients with nonresectable tumour or with recurrence after radical surgery showed low ADA levels, while patients operated upon and without recurrence had enzymatic activity not different from that of normal controls. The first report of impaired immunological function associated with ADA deficiency was by Giblett et al (1972) in a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency. This finding, which has been substantiated by other groups (Meuwissen et al, 1975; Parkman et al, 1975), has stimulated great interest, because it was the first description of an enzymatic defect linked to a disorder of specific immunity. Low ADA levels were reported in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (Tung et al, 1976) and in liver cirrhosis (Galanti et al, 1978)

PATIENTS AND METHODS

RESULTS

Patients operated and without recurrence

On chemotherapy

Findings

DISCUSSION