Abstract
The effects of administration of opiates and naloxone on the activities of PFK, 6PGDH and α-GPDH and α-GPDH/6PGDH ratios in human breast carcinomas were investigated in patients awaiting mastectomy. Injection of naloxone or fentanyl into an antecubital vein resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the activity of α-GPDH. Fentanyl was also effective in reducing the activity of 6PGDH. Injection of morphine into a branch of the internal mammary artery during mastectomy failed to induce changes in the activities of any of the enzymes but injection of naloxone resulted in a significant rise in the activity of 6PGDH. It is postulated that these alterations in the activities might not be associated with the binding of these drugs to opiate receptor proteins in the carcinoma. Furthermore opiate agonists or antagonists might not produce the required changes in the activities of any of the enzymes.
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