The aim of this work was to determine serum DPPIV activity as well as the percentage of CD26+ white blood cells and of CD26+ lymphocytes and the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD26 expression on lymphocytes in groups of patients with benign or malignant breast tumors and in healthy control people. Serum DPPIV activity was determined by colorimetric test, while CD26+ cells were counted using flow cytometer. Results of this study show that there is no statistically significant difference in serum DPPIV activity between examined groups of patients and healthy controls. However, two times higher frequency of patients with breast cancers had the enhanced DPPIV enzymatic activity in comparison to controls. Significant decrease in the percentage of CD26+ total white blood cells was found in the group of breast cancer patients and in patients with benign breast tumors compared to that found for healthy people. Although there was decrease in the percentage of lymphocytes in patients with breast tumors it was not statistically significant. The MFI of CD26 expression on these cells was significantly lower for cancer patients in comparison to healthy controls. In conclusion, this work showed the enhanced frequency of breast cancer patients with higher serum DPPIV activity. Decreased percentage of CD26+ white blood cells and decreased CD26 expression on lymphocytes are also characteristics of this group of patients. Determination of the clinical outcome of analyzed patients, 1 and 2 years after the surgical resection of the tumor, would clarify potential prognostic values of examined parameters for breast cancer.
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