Plasminogen activator content of gynecological tumors and their metastases

The plasminogen activator content of surgically excised gynecological tumors was measured with an azocaseinolytic assay. Ovarian (10 primary, 18 metastases) and uterine (5 primary and 6 metastases) tumors showed similar mean activator activities (21 CTA units/g tissue) mainly of the urokinase type with similar wide variations in each group. About 44% (14 of 32) of the tissues placed in short term organ culture were shown to produce and secrete urokinase activity. Results of the plasminogen activator activity found in the patient tumors or produced by the tumors during culture in the absence or presence of some drugs indicate a wide range of individual variations in sensitivity to these agents.