gamma-Glutamyltransferase in human and mouse breast tumours

A series of experimental mouse tumours were assayed for their gamma-glutamyltransferase activities. Significantly raised activities were found in a transplantable spontaneous mammary carcinoma compared to normal or lactating mouse breast. A study was therefore undertaken of human breast tumours. Carcinomas showed significantly elevated enzyme levels when compared with normal tissue or histologically uninvolved tissue from a breast containing a carcinoma. Fibroadenoma and chronic mastitis also showed significantly elevated levels when compared with normal tissue and did not differ significantly from carcinoma tissue. Benign breast cyst fluid showed very high levels of enzyme activity. Binding properties of the enzyme to Con A-Sepharose suggested that while normal tissue and fibroadenomas contained only asialated enzyme, carcinomas, chronic mastitis and cyst fluid contained a substantial proportion of sialated enzyme.