Lymphocyte lysosomal acid phosphatase in patients with carcinoma of the larynx

The activity of lysosomal acid phosphatase in the peripheral blood lymphocytes was determined by using the method of Barka and Anderson in 20 men with carcinoma of the larynx, untreated. The results were compared with those in 20 healthy subjects. In the patients a statistically significant decrease of the lymphocyte count exhibiting enzyme-positive lysosomal granules was noted but the number of the lymphocytes with granular and diffuse or only diffuse type of cytochemical reaction was significantly increased. The lack of significant differences in the total lymphocyte count between patients and controls suggests the possibility of lysosome disruption and subsequent release of enzymes into the cytoplasm in the patients studied. The anomalies of the enzyme-positive lymphocyte lysosomal equipment are discussed in the light of the data on immunologic alterations in cancer patients, and of those suggesting that acid phosphatase may serve as marker of T cells.