SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE ACTIVITIES IN SERUM AND WHITE BLOOD-CELLS OF PATIENTS WITH SOME MALIGNANCIES

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity has been estimated in serum and le ukocytes isolated from adults and children with acute lymphoblastic le ukemia (ALL), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkin's disease (HD) and n euroblastoma. Super oxide dismutase levels in leukocytes isolated from adult patients with HD, ALL and NHL were significantly higher than th e corresponding control values. Serum SOD activity of adult patients w ith ALL and NHL was significantly decreased compared to the normal val ue, while its activity was not significantly changed in patients with HD. Marked deficiencies of leukocyte SOD levels in children with ALL, NHL, HD and neuroblastoma were found. There were no apparent differenc es in serum SOD activity in children suffering from ALL, NHL, HD and n euroblastoma. It is concluded that the assay of leukocyte SOD can be u sed to differentiate between HD and NHL in both adults and children. ( C) 1997 Elsevier Science ireland Ltd.