Study of serum phosphohexose isomerase (PHI) levels in the management of head and neck malignancies.

The enzyme phosphohexose isomerase PHI was estimated in 43 patients of head and neck malignancy. The serum level of this enzyme was found to be raised in all the cancer patients. It was found that there were significantly higher levels of serum PHI in cases with metastatic lesions. The rise in PHI values was proportionate with the clinical stage of tumor. 29 Patients, out of 43 who had taken complete treatment weresubjected to post therapeutic PHI level estimations and the response to treatment was evaluated. Study showed that estimation of serum PHI levels have significant role in diagnosis of cancer, early detection of residual growth, recurrent growth and secondaries.