Abstract

A large proportion of human cancers are claimed to be caused by lifestyle or dietary factors. The digestive tract is major site of cancers in humans. Several biochemical markers have been used for diagnosis and prognosis in various cancers. Serum tumor markers such as Carcinoembryonic antigen and enzymes such as alkaline Phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and glutathione-s-transferase are assessed in 50 patients of stomach carcinoma. Serum levels are measured before initiation of chemotherapy as well as during and after chemotherapy. The patients received chemotherapy in three cycles at 6 months intervals under standard protocol, which included the cisplatin and/or 5-Fluorouracil. The results show significantly higher baseline mean values of carcinoembryonic antigen, glutathione-s-transferase, lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase in the patients of stomach cancer compared to the controls. The mean levels of glutathione-stransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase rise after first cycle of chemotherapy thereafter the mean levels were found to decline. The rate of decrease in glutathione-s-transferase was parallel to carcinoembryonic antigen. It is concluded that serum glutathione-s-transferase is the suitable surrogate biochemical marker for assessing the prognosis in the chemotherapy of gastric carcinoma. In comparison to alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase, glutathione-s-transferase is sensitive and preferable biochemical marker in monitoring chemotherapy in gastric carcinoma.