O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase activity in human brain tumors

The O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AT) activity in different kinds of human brain tumors was investigated. Twenty-seven brain tumors were analysed. Twenty-five of them showed proficient AT activity with values ranging between 20 and 722 fmol AT/mg protein. The two AT-deficient tumors observed were an oligodendroglioma and an astrocytoma. The relationship between the different histological kinds of tumor, with respect to the AT activity was: meningeomas greater than sarcomas greater than glioblastomas greater than astrocytomas greater than oligodendrogliomas greater than neurinomas greater than lymphomas. The proposal of Kohn (DNA filter elution methods in anticancer drug development. In: Concepts, Clinical Developments, and Therapeutic Advances in Cancer Chemotherapy. Editor: F.M. Muggia. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Boston) to confine treatments with alkylating antineoplastic agents to AT-deficient tumors, is discussed.