[Immunologic changes in serum CuZn-containing superoxide dismutase in patients with lung cancer]

Serum immunologic changed CuZn-containing superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) level was determined in 45 patients with lung cancer and the results were compared with those in 22 normal persons and 19 cases with benign pulmonary diseases. The results were as follows: x +/- Sx of CuZn-SOD in the lung cancer group was 16.11 +/- 0.78 ng/ml, that in the benign pulmonary disease group was 9.51 +/- 0.61 ng/ml and that in the normal adults group was 7.22 +/- 0.79 ng/ml. The mean of the activity of serum immunologic changed CuZn-SOD in patients with lung cancer was significantly high than that in the other two groups. (P less than 0.001). If a serum immunologic changed CuZn-SOD level of 11.98 ng/ml and over is considered as Positive, the positive rate will be 80%, 11%, and 4.5% in the three groups respectively. In the light of the above findings, we suggest that determination of the activity of serum immunologic changed CuZn-SOD is helpful in the diagnosis of lung cancer.