New test LDH LACTATE DEHYDRO.. can anyone explain it to me?

[Lynsi13]

My dad's oncologist ordered a new test for this three-month checkup, the LDH LACTATE DEHYDRO. I tried Google for a suitable answer and while I understand that it's related to cancer, I was curious to know about the direct relationship with prostate cancer.

Most of the articles that I pulled up show that there was a correlation between PSA and the levels in this test, but I was hoping one of the intelligent people in this group could give me a better explanation in more layman's terms if you wouldn't mind!?? And just for the record, my dad's level was 175, right in the middle of the normal range. 😊

Thanks!

[ctarleton]

My layman's thoughts on this is that areas of prostate cancer that are growing more dangerously or that hold more risk potential may be outgrowing their available blood supply, and have parts of them that are considered "hypoxic zones". The expression of lactate dehydrogenase-5 (LDH5), a tumor hypoxia marker, may have some benefits of being used along with other markers to identify riskier prostate cancers, or to estimate likelihoods for disease progression within shorter time-frames. There have been a few small-ish studies around the world involving +/- 50 patients to try to confirm the strength or utility of any such possible correlations. For now, it's just another piece of information. A "Normal" result is most often a good thing.

[tango65]

LDH has been used along with other variables to estimate the prognosis of patients with PC and bone metastases

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/126...

[LearnAll]

LDH is another tumor marker , just like PSA , ALP etc. A normal LDH tells us that treatment is having success over cancer

[EdBar]

LDH is an enzyme produced by rapidly growing cells. So it would be a tumor marker. I believe it also indicates cell destruction that would occur in the case of bone mets.

Ed

[Lynsi13]

Wonderful! Thank you guys for these replies! That certainly helps to clarify. Still waiting on his PSA results to come through... they always take so long!

[dadzone43]

Complicated. LDH is an enzyme present in small quantities throughout the body. While it is A "marker of tissue damage" it is not specific, meaning it can be coming from any tissue. Normal LDH would be a good finding.