ENZYMES: LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE AND ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE IN LUNG CANCER PATIENTS BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT.

Background:- Cancer produces profound biochemical changes in the body of the host among which alterations in the enzyme levels in serum or plasma is a remarkable one. Objectives of the study:- The present study aims to assess the status of LDH and ALP in lung cancer patients before and after treatment. Materials and Methods:- A total of 50 lung cancer patients clinically staged and confirmed by histopathological examination were included in the present study. Another 30 healthy age and sex matched subjects free from any systemic diseases were taken as control. Serum LDH and ALP levels were estimated by Calorimetric method as described by Henry RJ et al. (1960) and Bowers GN et al. (1976) respectively. Results:- Mean serum LDH (439.42?145.31 IU/L) and ALP (299.60?144.2 IU/L) were significantly higher in lung cancer patients as compared to control group (LDH= 221.06?34 IU/L and ALP=162.30? 20.61IU/L) respectively, p value<.001. Pre treatment serum LDH and ALP levels show positive correlation with stages of disease. Mean serum LDH decreased to 356.84?150.39 IU/l and ALP to 227.30?107.66 IU/l after treatment and difference between pretreatment and post treatment values were statistically significant.(p value<.001) Conclusion:- Measurement of serum LDH and ALP activity would be useful tool in the diagnosis and assessment of prognosis in lung cancer patients. The pretreatment serum LDH and ALP has positive correlation with stage of disease, tumor mass and extend of disease. However the post treatment values of the enzymes were inconsistent. Further studies are recommended in order to evaluate the significance of post treatment values of these enzymes