Enhanced poly ADP-ribosylation in human leukemia lymphocytes and ovarian cancers

Freshly isolated human peripheral blood lymphocytes from leukemia (AML, ALL, CML) subjects, showed a 2.5-3.5-fold increase in the poly ADPR transferase (poly ADPRT) activity whereas ovarian cancers showed a 2-fold increase. This was accompanied by a drop in NAD levels of 45%-63% in leukemia cells and 40% in ovarian cancers. Tumour promoters phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and mezerein produced an increase in poly ADPRT activity in both normal and CML lymphocytes, but the increase was more marked in the case of normals. This was accompanied by a drop in NAD levels. The results presented show a marked increase in poly ADP-ribosylation in malignant cells but normal lymphocytes showed a greater response to tumour promoters as compared to CML lymphocytes.