Arylsulfatase A was radioimmunoassayed in serum specimens of 96 healthy volunteers and 368 patients with histopathologically confirmed
cancer of gastrointestinal tract, breast, lung, central nervous system, kidney and woman genital tract. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of the test were 43%, 82% and 90%, respectively, which means that a positive test is significant for diagnosis of
cancer regardless of its localization. More detailed statistical analysis of the results indicates that determination of the serum concentration of
arylsulfatase A might be helpful in the diagnosis of lung (59% sensitivity, 82% specificity) and central nervous system
cancer (60% sensitivity, 82% specificity). Further studies should also be continued in respect to renal and women genital tract
cancers for which the results of the test, although promising, are at present not conclusive due to the small numbers of examined cases. Particularly, determination of serum
arylsulfatase A in case of
endometrial cancer seems to be of diagnostic value.
Arylsulfatase A concentration in serum with a lower than 40% sensitivity of the test cannot be considered as a valuable
tumor indicator in the case of
cancer of breast and gastrointestinal tract, although 80% predictive value of the test for the latter group of
tumors is quite high and perhaps merits additional consideration.