Comportamento dei Sulfidrili del Siero Nelle Neoplasie Maligne

Abstract

Basing on the significance of sulfhydryl groups in cell metabolism, the behaviour of serum sulfhydryls was studied in various physiological and pathological conditions. The limiting values of the normal ranges were assessed.

Pregnancy, fever, anemia, decay of general conditions were not found to cause an abnormal shift in sulfhydryl values. On the other hand, in cancer patients sulfhydryls are often under the normal, although a 26 per cent of normal values may be observed in the presence of clinically demonstrated cancers: hence, the determination of serum sulfhydryls is not of diagnostical value.

This different behaviour, likely dependent on the varying rate of sulfhydryls linked to globulins, was not found to be consistent either with the site and extent of the tumour, or with the presence of metastases, or with the duration of the disease.