**Solution:**

Let's assume that the number of terms in the AP series is 'n'.

**Finding the Common Difference:**

Given the first three terms of the series: -8, -6, -4.

We can see that each term is increasing by 2. Hence, the common difference (d) between the terms is 2.

**Finding the Sum of 'n' terms:**

The sum of 'n' terms of an arithmetic progression can be found using the formula:

S_n = n/2 * (2a + (n-1)d)

where S_n is the sum of 'n' terms, 'a' is the first term, and 'd' is the common difference.

Given that the sum of 'n' terms is 52, we can substitute the values in the formula:

52 = n/2 * (-8 + (n-1)2)

Simplifying the equation:

52 = n/2 * (-8 + 2n - 2)

Multiplying both sides of the equation by 2 to eliminate the fraction:

104 = n * (-8 + 2n - 2)

Expanding the equation:

104 = -8n + 2n^2 - 2n

Rearranging the terms:

2n^2 - 10n + 104 = 0

**Solving the Quadratic Equation:**

To find the value of 'n', we can solve the quadratic equation:

2n^2 - 10n + 104 = 0

Using the quadratic formula:

n = (-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac)) / 2a

where a = 2, b = -10, and c = 104.

Calculating the discriminant (b^2 - 4ac):

Discriminant = (-10)^2 - 4 * 2 * 104 = 100 - 832 = -732

Since the discriminant is negative, the quadratic equation has no real solutions. This means that there is no positive integer value for 'n' that satisfies the given conditions.

Therefore, there is no certain number of terms in the AP series that would result in a sum of 52.