Objectives: To compare N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase (HEX) activity in the serum and urine of smokers as well as non-smokers with renal cancer, and healthy people.
Design and methods: To assess hexosaminidase activity the level of p-nitrophenol released from p-nitrophenol derivatives was measured.
Results: The activity of enzyme was significantly higher in cancer group, with the highest activity in non-smokers.
Conclusions: Cigarette smoking can inhibit, by the influence on HEX activity, catabolism of oligosaccharide chains in cancer tissues.