Objective: To determine the relationship between double-contrast manifestation and 5'-nucleotidase (5'-NT) of gastric carcinoma.
Methods: Serum specimens were taken from 41 cases with gastric carcinoma documented by double-contrast visualization and pathology. 5'-NT activity was determined by spectrophotometry. 40 healthy subjects were recruited and studied as normal controls.
Results: The serum level of 5'-NT(1.14 u/ml) in gastric carcinoma group was lower than that of control group (2.60 u/ml) (P < 0.05). Anatomically, it was found that the 5'-NT level of gastric carcinoma gradually increased as the sites of the tumor lined up from the orifice (0.98 u/ml) to the antrum (1.28 u/ml) via the body (1.20 u/ml). 5'-NT of the ulcerative type (0.96 u/ml) was lower than that of the fungating type (1.12 u/ml) or the infiltrating type (1.40 u/ml). 5'-NT(1.53 u/ml) of stage IV gastric carcinoma was higher than that of stage 1 (0.83 u/ml), stage I (0.98 u/ml) and stage III (1.03 u/ml) (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The change of 5'-NT from gastric carcinoma was correlated with the site, type or stage shown on the double-contrast images of the tumor.