The role of acid and alkaline DNases as tumour markers in cancer of the genitourinary tract.

The levels of Acid and Alkaline DNases were measured in the serum of patients with: (a) Cancer of the Genitourinary Tract (confirmed by biopsy), (b) with inflammatory diseases and non-malignant tumours of the Genitourinary tract, (c) healthy blood donors. In the first group the results showed that the Acid DNase level was raised in 62% and Alkaline DNase in 43%. In the second group acid DNase was increased in 30% and Alkaline DNase in 13%. In the third group Acid and Alkaline DNase levels were normal. These results suggest that the measurement of Acid and Alkaline DNases could be considered as malignant diseases markers, in spite of false positive and false negative results in some cases.