Hexokinase isoenzymes in the diagnosis of gastric and esophageal neoplasms.

Using a method of electrophoretic separation on agar gel, the hexokinase (HK) isoenzymes were determined in biopsies from patients with gastric and esophageal cancer and nonmalignant diseases (gastric benign tumors and gastritis) as well as in biopsies from healthy people. In the malignant neoplasms studied, a significant elevation of HK-II and the appearance of additional anodal bands (HK-IIf and HK-III) have been demonstrated. As a rule, the HK isoenzyme spectrum in gastric polyps was similar to that of normal mucosa and characterized by a predominance of HK-I. Changes in the HK isoenzyme composition in gastric mucosa with intestinal metaplasia were expressed in lesser degree but had similar cancerous tendency. The HK isoenzyme analysis in biopsy samples may be used for differential diagnosis of malignant and benign tumors, and/or as definite diagnostic implication of an early sign of malignancy in the study of premalignant lesions.