Clinical enzymology in cancer.

Abstract

It is fair to say that so far, and with few exceptions, the application of enzymology to clinical oncology has been disappointing. This is certainly true with regard to cancer screening and diagnosis. It is unlikely that any single enzyme or isoenzyme will emerge as a sufficiently sensitive or specific indicator of cancer, and it would seem more profitable to focus on multivariate or pattern analysis of several enzymes and other measurable body fluid constituents. Another suggested approach would be to establish the normal enzyme levels for individuals and then follow them for changes which might signal the development of a neoplasm. Finally, Weber's concept of key enzymes as the phenotypic markers of neoplasia and targets of chemotherapy would appear to open a new avenue for enzymology in clinical oncology.