Summary
The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme patterns in benign and malignant brain tumours were determined by means of electrophoresis of the cell extracts and selective cytochemical stain of the smears.
The LDH isoenzyme distribution of the cell extracts showed a pronounced cathodal shift in the malignant gliomas and metastatic carcinomas. Normal brain tissues and histologically benign gliomas, however, showed an anodal pattern with a dominance of the H-type LDH. Schwannomas and meningiomas had a midzone isoenzyme pattern with a dominant LDH3 fraction. Pituitary adenomas usually showed the LDH pattern similar to that of the normal cerebrum.
The LDH M fraction could be cytochemically verified using an inhibitory effect by 2.6 M urea in staining. Astrocytomas grades 3–4 and metastatic carcinomas were characterized by loss or marked reduction of stainability by urea treatment, while astrocytomas grades 1–2 and oligodendrogliomas were resistant to urea inhibition.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bredin, H. C., Daly, J. J., Prout, G. R., Jr., Lactic dehydrogenase isoenzymes in human bladder cancer. J. Urol.113 (1975), 487–490.
Emery, A. E. H., Moores, G. E., Hodson, V., The determination of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes with urea. Clin. Chim. Acta19 (1968), 159–161.
Fujii, M., Mori, H., Kato, K., Takahashi, M., Cytochemical studies of LDH isoenzymes in experimental bladder tumors. J. Urol.128 (1982), 1349–1352.
Gerhardt, W., Clausen, J., Christensen, E., Riishede, J., Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in the diagnosis of human benign and malignant brain tumors. J. Nat. Cancer Inst.38 (1967), 343–357.
Ghosh, B. C., Ghosh, L., Newson, B. L., Das Gupta, T. K., Histochemical and ultrastructural study of lactic dehydrogenase in chemically induced lung cancer. Cancer Res.38 (1978), 2790–2794.
Goldman, R. D., Kaplan, N. O., Hall, T. C., Lactic dehydrogenase in human neoplastic tissues. Cancer Res.24 (1964), 389–398.
Haglid, K., Carlsson, C. A., Thulin, C. A., Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes and proteins in human gliomas. Neurochirurgia13 (1970), 19–28.
Hardy, S. M., Simple determination of heart-specific lactic dehydrogenase isoenzyme in serum. Nature206 (1965), 933–934.
Kernohan, J. W., Sayre, G. P., Tumors of the central nervous system. AFIP atlas of tumor pathology. 1st series, fascicle 35. Washington, D.C.: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. 1952.
Pfleiderer, G., Wachsmuth, E. D., Alters- und funktionsabhängige Differenzierung der Lactatdehydrogenase menschlicher Organe. Biochem. Zschr.334 (1961), 185–198.
Rabow, L., Kristensson, K., Changes in lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme patterns in patients with tumours of the central nervous system. Acta Neurochir. (Wien)36 (1977), 71–81.
Rubinstein, L. J., Tumors of the central nervous system. AFIP atlas of tumor pathology. 2nd series, fascicle 6. Washington, D.C.: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. 1972.
Sherwin, A. L., LeBlanc, F. E., McCann, W. P., Altered LDH isozymes in brain tumors. Arch. Neurol.18 (1968), 311–315.
Takahashi, M., Color Atlas of Cancer Cytology. 2nd edition, p. 131. Tokyo-New York: Igakushoin Co. 1981.
Warburg, O., On the origin of cancer cells. Science123 (1956), 309–314.
Welshman, S. G., Rixon, E. C., Colorimetric estimation of lactic dehydrogenase isoenzymes by urea inhibition. Clin. Chim. Acta19 (1968), 121–123.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fujii, M., Nishikawa, A., Tanaka, T. et al. Cytochemical changes in lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in human brain tumours. Acta neurochir 71, 243–253 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01401319
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01401319