[Transketolase activity and thiamine diphosphate content in oncological patients]

In blood of patients with cancer of stomach and mammary gland total thiamin content was measured by means of fluorimetric procedure, thiamindiphosphate (TDP)--by an enzymatic method, activity of transketolase was estimated in presence or in absence of TDP. Concentration of total thiamin in blood of healthy persons was 7.65 +/- 0.40 micrograms/100 ml; thiamindiphosphate--5.06 micrograms/100 ml activity of transketolase was 11.59 +/- 0.23 mmol/l. The "TDP" -effect was altered from 4% to 12%. In blood of oncological patients the concentration of total thiamin was 4.47 +/- 0.35 micrograms/100 ml and that of thiamindiphosphate 3.09 +/- 0.27 micrograms/100 ml, i.e. they were decreased by 40%. The transketolase activity was decreased by 20% (9.40 +/- 0.37 mmol/l); the "TDP" -effect was altered from 5% to 42%.