Regan variant alkaline phosphatase in gastrointestinal carcinoma

A fast-moving alkaline phosphatase band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has been found in 6 patients with carcinoma of the liver and gastrointestinal tract. This isoenzyme resembled the placental isoenzyme in its inhibition by L-phenylalanine, its resistance to L-homoarginine inhibition and its molecular weight. However, it differed from the placental and Regan isoenzymes in its sensitivity to L-leucine and ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid, its lower retardation by neuraminidase, its electrophoretic mobility and its decreased heat stability. The latter two properties also distinguished it from the Nagao isoenzyme. It was identified as the Regan Variant. The Regan Variant has hitherto been reported largely in hepatocellular carcinoma. In the presented paper we report its appearance in the sera of patients who have neoplasms in a variety of primary sites in the gastrointestinal tract. It is emphasized that, while the presence of the Regan Variant in serum may be taken as evidence of carcinoma, no conclusions can be drawn as to the site of the disease.