Cytoenzymology of benign and malignant tumours of the corpus uteri. III. Alkaline phosphatase, non-specific esterase and leucine aminopeptidase.

The localization and enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase, non-specific esterase and leucine aminopeptidase were studied in normal menopausal corpus uterine tissues and its benign (fibromyoma and cellular fibromyoma) and malignant tumours (endometrium adenocarcinomata and spindle cell sarcoma). Alkaline phosphatase was localized in the cytoplasm and nuclear structures and showed the highest intense activity in well-differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma. Non-specific esterase was confined to the cytoplasm and was particularly marked in undifferentiated adenocarcinoma cells. Leucine aminopeptidase was considerably higher in spindle cell sarcoma than endometrium adenocarcinoma. Generally, the aforementioned enzymes were increased in neoplastic tumour tissues of the uterus than the homologous normal tissues.