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Using own modification of X-ray microanalysis method the authors evaluated the lead, chlorine, and sulfur content in the peripheral blood lymphocytes in 20 patients with laryngeal carcinoma in comparison with 20 healthy subjects of the control group. In patients with advanced clinical stages of that carcinoma the elevated lead and chlorine content has been stated in above cells whereas that of sulfur was decreased. According to the authors' opinion above changes reflect functional disturbances of lymphocytes in the patient with laryngeal carcinoma related to the decreased detoxicative properties, the intracellular electrolyte imbalance, and the enzymatic machinery alterations within that cells.

Activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase, and acid phosphatase and myeloperoxidase was determined in neutrophils and lymphocytes of patients with cancer of the larynx and precancerous states of the larynx as well as--for comparative reasons--in patients with malignant tumors of female generation organs, breast carcinoma, cancer of the stomach and endometriosis. The main result of investigations performed was in fact that intracellular deficiency of beta-glucuronidase within the neutrophils characterizes patients with cancer and precancerous states of the larynx. Patients with cancer of the larynx show additionally a deficiency of neutrophil myeloperoxidase. Deficiency of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase occurs, in contrast, in patients with malignancies of female generation organ. Activity of myeloperoxidase in neutrophils from patients with gastric carcinoma is slightly elevated.

Lymphocytes from patients with cancer of the larynx have been characterized by the activity of two enzymes involved in purine metabolism--adenosine deaminase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase. It has been shown that purine nucleoside phosphorylase activity was 1.5-fold higher in lymphocytes of patients in comparison with a group of healthy individuals. Adenosine deaminase activity in lymphocytes was elevated three to four-fold. The authors suggest that especially the estimation of adenosine deaminase activity in lymphocytes would be a useful laboratory test in the study of immune responsiveness of patients with cancer of the larynx.