MYELOPEROXIDASE ACTIVITY AND WHOLE-BLOOD CHEMILUMINESCENCE IN BLADDERCANCER-INFLUENCE OF SMOKING

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) from 63 male bladder cancer patien ts do not differ from 65 cases of the control group in myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) nor in whole blood chemiluminescence response (CL). MP O activity increased in control smokers compared with the control nons mokers (p < 0.05) and correlated significantly with cigarette consumpt ion. CL response was also higher in control smokers (p < 0.05) than in control nonsmokers, and con;elates significantly with the MPO activit y. Both MPO and CL showed significant association with the increased n umber of peripheral blood PMNs. Although substantial evidence implicat es oxygen free radicals, not only in chemical carcinogenesis, but also in the antitumor system (especially the myeloperoxidase system), we w ere unable to establish either an increase or a decrease in the axidan t generating capacities in bladder cancer patients, although a trend t owards a higher MPO and CL activity was observed in nonsmokers of this group. In conclusion, we found an enhanced oxidant-generating status of the smokers' PMNs, but its biological significance in carcinogenesi s of the bladder remains to be established.