Diagnostic Importance of Adenosine Deaminase Activity for Progression and Invasion of Human Colon Tumors

The aim of the study was to explore the usefulness of adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity as a marker of colon tumor progression and to find a quantitative expression of ADA in mucosa of colon carcinoma, polyps, adjacent to tumors, or mucosa from anastomosis after surgical resection. The highest ADA activity was obtained from mucosa adjacent to carcinoma compared to healthy tissue. The ADA activity from polyp tissue increased slightly, compared to the activity of further healthy tissue, the enzyme activity from anastomosis was also higher than the activity of corresponding healthy tissue. The highest enzyme activity of mucosa adjacent to carcinoma suggest that ADA may be included in tumor growth and progression and may be of importance as an early marker of colon carcinoma invasion. Obtained data could be useful in assessing the margins for surgical resection of colorectal carcinoma and assessing prognosis and clinical outcome of the disease after surgical resection, together with known clinicopathologic parameters.