Increased lymphocyte ATP-ase activity in patients with carcinomas of the oral cavity and larynx

Effect of operation on peripheral lymphocyte counts and production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in cancer patients

Lymphocyte bioenergetics in cancer patients undergoing surgery is largely unexplored. The effect of surgery on total lymphocyte counts and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production is reported. Lymphocyte ATP was assayed by the coupled enzymatic method using hexokinase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and lymphocyte counts were calculated from total leukocyte counts and differential counts. Lymphocyte ATP assay and counts were carried out in 13 patients pre- and postoperatively, and lymphocyte counts were scored in six more patients similarly. In 69% of the patients lymphocyte ATP production was depressed postoperatively, and this condition appeared to be associated with cancer spread and immunosuppressive tumors. Postoperative increase in lymphocyte ATP was observed following hysterectomy, colostomy, and also after blood transfusion. The significance of the findings are discussed. Changes in postoperative lymphocyte counts correlated with lymphocyte ATP in 62% of the cases.

Lymphocyte ATPase activity in patients with carcinoma of the larynx. A follow-up study on 45 patients

Mitochondria-related Mg ATPase activity was assayed in lymphocytes isolated from the blood in 45 patients with epidermoid carcinomas of the larynx. Increased activity was found in 11 patients and normal or subnormal activity in the remaining cases. No correlation could be demonstrated between the magnitude or the spreading of the malignancy as recorded by the TNM classification and the ATPase activity. In 36 patients determinations were carried out repeatedly during a period from 6 to 20 months following therapy and after 3 years a final follow-up on all patients was done. All patients received high-voltage radiotherapy and in 7 patients additional partial or total laryngectomia was carried out, one patient had bilateral neck dissection. After radiotherapy the ATPase activity decreased significantly in 17 patients while it either remained normal or increased temporarily in the rest. No correlation was found between the course of the disease and the initial ATPase activity or the pattern of variation in ATPase activity following therapy. Contrary to what resulted from a preliminary study, it is concluded that determination of lymphocyte ATPase activity is of no diagnostic value in patients with laryngeal carcinoma, nor does it offer any prognostic help in determining which patients may relapse or develop metastatic disease.