THE STATUS OF THE SURFACE ENZYME GUANIDINOBENZOATASE ON MATURE EPITHELIAL-CELLS IN SPUTUM CELL MONOLAYERS

Mature epithelial cells derived from the sputum of normal healthy adul ts lack GB, while the epithelial cells of sputum collected from patien ts with lung tumours contain a spectrum of epithelial cells with activ e GB, some of which are clearly tumour cells, based upon their morphol ogy. The presence of abnormal epithelial cells was confirmed by the cy tologist whilst observing the fluorescent stained cells and later by i ndependent cytological analysis of these same cells employing conventi onal stains.