Relationship between Erythrocyte Hexokinase in Cancer Patients and Red Cell Age

Red Blood Cell Hexokinase in Tumor Bearing Mice

Red blood cell hexokinase of tumor-bearing BALB/c mice was found to be 35% higher than in the normal controls, whereas glucose 6-phosphate-dehydrogenase and other red blood cell glycolytic enzymes were in the normal range. This hexokinase increase cannot be explained by a mean younger red cell population because normal hematological data and normal red cell enzymes, known as red cell age-markers, have been found in tumor-bearing mice. The isozymic pattern of red cell hexokinase is not modified in the tumor-bearing mice.

Adenine and Pyridine Nucleotides in the Red Blood Cells of Subjects with Solid Tumors

The concentration of adenine (ATP, ADP, AMP) and pyridine (NADP+, NADPH, NAD+, NADH) nucleotides in the erythrocytes of subjects affected by solid tumors was evaluated using a method which allows their simultaneous extraction and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis. The results showed a lower level of ATP in the erythrocytes of subjects affected by solid tumors, whereas no significant modifications were observed in the other compounds. In fact, the mean value of ATP in these subjects was 27 % lower than that of normal adults. This fact is discussed in relation to other enzymatic and metabolic modifications previously observed in red blood cells.