Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in human malignant tumors.

For estimation of the value of Chemetron method for LD isoenzyme separation on cellulose-acetate membranes in cancer tissues taken from corpses, malignant tumors revealed by autopsy were investigated. Overall stability of LD, as well as the maintenance of various forms of isoenzymes in the extracts with regard to post-mortem autolysis in corpse and long periods of freezing, have been demonstrated. No correlation was found between the degree of isoenzyme changes and the histologic grading of tumors. LD isoenzyme pattern in cancer metastasis has been considered with respect to vascular and metabolic role of the environmental normal tissue. In order to point out the possible role of LD isoenzyme pattern in cancer diagnosis a lot of preliminary studies has been reviewed. The clarification of the specific distribution of LD activities in different tissues has been considered.