ALTERATION OF ALDOLASE ISOZYMES IN SERUM AND TISSUES OF PATIENTS WITHCANCER AND OTHER DISEASES

We studied the alteration of aldolase isozymes in the serum and tissue s of patients with cancer and other diseases using radioimmunoassays s pecific for aldolaseA, B, and G subunits. Aldolase B was predominantly found in adult liver, where aldolase A and C were distinctly low. Ald olase A and B showed almost the same concentration in fetal liver, whi le in neonatal liver aldolase B protein concentrations were much highe r than aldolase A. In contrast, aldolase A was the predominant isozyme found in hepatoma and gastric cancer tissues, whereas aldolase B was distinctly low in hepatoma tissues, and extremely low in gastric cance r tissues. These results suggest that the aldolase A is a more fetal t ype of liver isozyme than the aldolase B and C, and aldolase B is a mo re differentiated type of liver isozyme than aldolase A and C. Serum F DP aldolase activities were elevated in half of patients with liver di seases, all patients with muscle diseases and a few patients with canc er. Serum aldolase A levels were elevated in patients with muscle dise ases and cancer, but not elevated in patients with liver diseases. In contrast, serum aldolase B levels were elevated in patients with liver disease, but not elevated in patients with muscle diseases and other diseases without liver injury. Serum aldolase B levels showed a trend to decrease in cancer patients with normal GPT levels. Serum aldolase A/B ratios were significantly increased in cancer patients with normal GPT levels, whereas they showed the decreased levels in patients with liver diseases. These results suggest that measurement of aldolase is ozymes by subunit specific radioimmunoassays may be useful in the diag nosis of certain cancers, myopathies and liver diseases. (C) 1994 Wile y-Liss, Inc.