Enzymes of neutrophils in women with malignant tumors of reproductive organs.

Enzymatic equipment in peripheral blood neutrophils has been determined in 10 women with cervical carcinoma, 5 with carcinoma of the uterus body and 30 women with myomas of the uterus. Using cytochemical techniques the authors observed the intracellular deficiency of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase accompanied by diminished absolute count of the enzyme-positive cells as well as the beta-glucuronidase- and the myeloperoxidase-positive neutrophils. Lowered activity of the myeloperoxidase was another pattern of cells in question. The acid phosphatase activity of neutrophils in the patients was significantly elevated. It has been suggested that observed intracellular deficiencies of selected enzymes within the neutrophils are of importance with regard to lowered antitumor activity of that cells operating mainly through the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-halide system.