Arylesterase isoenzymes and activity in normal healthy adults and in patients with cancer and with other diseases

Abstract

Serum arylesterase isozyme patterns were studied in 184 normal healthy individuals, 290 cancer patients and 466 patients with various diseases. No abnormal patterns were seen in the normal healthy subjects. Several abnormal patterns found in the group of cancer patients and patients with various diseases are described. In the majority of patients with cancer of the liver there is an abnormal additional cathodal band. The most cathodal band in normals or the two most cathodal bands in the patients with hepatoma with double cathodal bands stained for cholinesterase as well as for arylesterase. We also studied serum arylesterase activity on the basis of the kinetic release of beta-naphthol in these groups. The mean activity in normal healthy individuals agrees with that reported earlier. In patients with cancer and with miscellaneous other diseases, the mean activity is lower but the range of values in the two groups is very wide.