The activity of class I, II, III and IV alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes and aldehyde dehydrogenase in renal cell carcinoma

•We measured ADH isoenzymes and ALDH activities in renal cancer cells.•The study material consisted of 43 cancerous renal tissues.•We employed photometric method and fluorometric method.•The activity of class I ADH and total ADH was significantly higher in RCC.•The change in ADH activity may be the factor intensifying carcinogenesis.

ObjectivesEthanol has been considered as a lifestyle risk factor for cancer in humans. While some studies have indicated that alcohol intake has a preventive effect for renal cell cancer, others have not. The metabolism of alcohol in cancer cells may be in many ways different than in healthy tissue and its disturbances could be associated with carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to compare the metabolism of renal cell cancer cells and normal renal cells by measurement of ADH isoenzymes and ALDH activities in these tissues.Material and methodsThe study material consisted of 43 cancerous renal tissues (14 patients in stage II, 19 in stage III and 10 in stage IV). Class III and IV ADH and total ADH activities were measured by the photometric method and class I and II ADH and ALDH activities by the fluorometric method with class-specific fluorogenic substrates.ResultsThe activity of the class I ADH isoenzyme and the total ADH was significantly higher in every stage of renal cell cancer as compared to healthy tissues. Analysis of ALDH activity did not show statistically significant differences between cancer and healthy cells.ConclusionThe increased activity of total ADH in renal cell cancer, especially the class I isoenzyme and normal activity of ALDH, may be the factor intensifying carcinogenesis because of increasing the ability to highly carcinogenic acetaldehyde formation and causing disorders in metabolism of many biologically important substances.