[Decrease of serum cholinesterase in colorectal cancer].

Background And Objective: Cholinesterase is an enzyme with an unknown physiologic function. Some situations are related to a decreased serum cholinesterase activity but those situations are not well defined and the responsible mechanisms are unknown. Malignancy is one of these situations. The aim of the study was to compare the cholinesterase activity between patients with and without colorectal cancer.

Patients And Method: Case-control study of patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgery in our hospital from March 05 to January 07.

Results: Patients from the cancer group had a significant decreased serum cholinesterase activity.

Conclusions: Investigation of cholinesterase function in humans may result in new research lines in oncology treatment.