Development of a Thermometric Assay for Cancer Differentiation Based on Aldolase Isozyme Patterns

Abstract

A microcalorimetric assay for aldolase isoenzymes in serum, using a Tian-Calvet conduction calorimeter, has been investigated for measurement of activities of serum aldolase toward fructose-1, 6-diphosphate (FDP) and fructose-1-monophosphate (FMP), and of the ratios between these activities as a function of disease state, specifically cancer. Chart deflection measures were found to be proportional to total heat involved and to bear a linear relationship to the amount of aldolase activity toward either substrate in the sample. Differentiation of a cancerous from a noncancerous population was distinct and unambiguous. The ratios of activity toward FDP and FMP were 3. 73 ± 0. 22 and 13. 20 ± 0. 80 in noncancerous and cancerous sera, respectively. The ease and rapidity of assay suggests considerable potential utility as a routine screening method for certain forms of cancer.

Key Words:

• microcalorimetry
• serum aldolase
• fructose phosphates
• cancer detection