Lysosomal enzymes of neutrophils in women with breast cancer

Activity of acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in peripheral blood neutrophils of 30 women with breast cancer has been studied by means of semiquantitative cytochemical methods. In comparison to 20 healthy women the patients showed an increased activity of acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase whereas that of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was significantly lowered. It has been suggested that observed intracellular enzymatic deficiency is of importance with regard to lowered antitumor activity of neutrophils. Analogous deficiency of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase within the neutrophils has previously been observed by the authors in women with malignant tumors of reproductive organs.