Evaluation of serum alkaline DNase activity in treatment monitoring of head and neck cancer patients.

Our previously published data on breast cancer suggest that serum alkaline DNase, a known circulating tumour marker, can be used for treatment monitoring of cancer patients. Serum alkaline DNase activities were analyzed in 215 untreated head and neck cancer patients. The enzyme activity ranged from 0.17 to 97.97 IKU/l in untreated cancer patients. Responders (n = 314) showed significantly elevated activity of alkaline DNase as compared to untreated cancer patients (p < 0.001). While non-responders (n = 168) showed comparable activity with untreated cancer patients. Serum alkaline DNase activities were significantly elevated in responders as compared to non-responders (p < 0.001). Our clinical studies during follow-up of patients indicated that the variations in serum alkaline DNase activities in individual patients correlate closely with response to therapy. Serum alkaline DNase also appeared to be useful in predicting treatment response in the long-term follow-up of patients. Serum alkaline DNase was systematically examined as a possible indicator for recurrence in patients under complete remission. In conclusion, serum alkaline DNase may be useful as a treatment monitoring in patients with head and neck malignancies.