[Collagenolytic activity of cervix carcinoma]

We estimated collagenolytic activity of 10 invasive carcinomas of the cervix by means of a biological assay. Collagenolysis was found in 7 specimens. In order to detect the origin of the collagenolytic enzyme additional inhibition studies with ethylendiaminetetraacetate and normal human serum were performed. Normal human serum inhibited the enzymatic process by a mean percentage of 14.9%, EDTA up to 9.1%. D-penicillamine and 1.10-o-phenanthroline which inhibit collagenase specifically stopped the enzymatic activity of the tumor completely. According to our results it can be suggested that the collagenolytic activity of carcinoma of the cervix uteri is not derived from serum or from polymorphonuclear cells but is created by the tumor itself.