[Behavior of phosphoisomerase and lactate dehydrogenase in pediatric oncological pathology]

Two glycolytic enzymes, PHI and LDH, have been evaluated in 18 children affected by leukemia or solid tumors: 11 patients had just initiated therapy, 3 patients were about to initiate therapy, while 4 patients were out of therapy. The analysis of the data obtained has shown a good correlation with the course of the disease: we have found values above the normal range in patients with a favorable course of the disease (bone marrow relapse or CNS involvement in leukemic children; relapse or metastasis in solid tumors) almost always before it was possible to demonstrate by clinical and laboratory studies the inhanchement of tumoral cells growth. This was true in all patients except two children affected by neuroblastoma, who were in a favorable immunological status (presence in the serum of free specific antibodies), and who were out of therapy. In these patients the abnormal high values of PHI were interpretated as an index of necrotic phenomena of micrometastasis of tumor cells induced by specific committed T-lymphocytes. Values of PHI and LDH in the normal range were found in patients whose disease demonstrated a favorable course. The AA. suggest the introduction of these enzymatic parameters which may be a useful index of the efficacy of the chemotherapy in the follow-up of oncologic patients.