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alpha-Amylase in resectable lung cancer
P Lenler-Petersen1, A Grove, A Brock
1Dept of Thoracic Surgery, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark.
The European Respiratory Journal
|May 1, 1994
Summary
This study investigated alpha-amylase expression in lung cancer, finding it primarily in adenocarcinomas. While some tumors produced amylase, this did not always correlate with elevated blood amylase levels (hyperamylasemia).
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
- Pathology
Background:
- Hyperamylasemia, elevated blood amylase, has been linked to lung cancer.
- Amylase production by carcinoma cells is a proposed mechanism for hyperamylasemia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively assess alpha-amylase expression in resectable lung cancer tissue.
- To correlate tumor amylase production with hyperamylasemia.
Main Methods:
- Biochemical analysis of amylase activity and isoenzyme identification in tumor tissue.
- Immunohistochemical analysis using an antibody against human salivary amylase.
- Clinical data including serum amylase levels were collected from 74 patients.
Main Results:
- Hyperamylasemia was observed in 13 of 70 patients.
- Increased amylase activity in tumor tissue was found in 10 of 52 cases, with only two cases associated with hyperamylasemia.
- Immunohistochemical analysis revealed amylase expression predominantly in adenocarcinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas, indicating amylase production is linked to adenomatous differentiation.
Conclusions:
- Immunohistochemical amylase expression in lung cancer is largely restricted to tumors with adenomatous differentiation.
- While tumors can produce amylase (salivary type), hyperamylasemia may result from other factors.
- The direct link between tumor amylase production and clinical hyperamylasemia requires further investigation.