In a previous study concerning the inherited ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) in patients with malignant goiter a significantly lower incidence of non-tasters in females suffering from this disease as compared with the normal population was found. The present examination of 402 females and 149 males with malignant tumors of genital organs and of other malignant tumors with or without sex prevalence (pulmonary carcinoma and carcinoma of the digestive tract) revealed a significantly lower incidence of non-tasters in females with genital cancer including carcinoma mammae. In females with malignant tumors of the digestive tract we observed only u statistically insignificant reduction of the number of non-tastcrs. In males suffering from genital cancer, pulmonary cancer or malignant tumors of the digestive tract no significant aberrations from the values valid for the normal population were observed. The possible interaction between the enzymatic background of the inherited ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide, the malignant process, and hormonal changes in affected females is discussed. © 1969 S. Karger AG, Basel.
