Uridine 5'-diphosphate-galactose:glycoprotein galactosyltransferase activity in the ovarian cancer patient

Uridine 5'-diphosphate-galactose:glycoprotein galactosyltransferase activity was demonstrated in homogenates of normal ovary and ovarian epithelial adenocarcinomas. The specific activity of the enzyme in ovarian tumors was 3 to 5 times higher than in normal ovaries when the enzyme was assayed under identical conditions. The glycoprotein fetuin, from which terminal sialic acid and penultimate galactose were removed (fetuin minus N-acetylneuraminis acid and galactose), acted as an excellent exogenous acceptor. Galactosyltransferase from normal ovary and ovarian tumor cells had similar properties. Both required Mn2+ and Triton X-100 and had broad pH optima between 5.5 and 7. Galactosyltransferase activity was also measured in serum samples from ovarian cancer patients and normal healthy individuals in the presence of fetuin minus N-acetylneuraminic acid and galactose as exogenous acceptor. The enzyme levels were significantly elevated in the sera of ovarian cancer patients as compared to normal controls. The differences in the levels of this enzyme in the tissues and sera of normal individuals and ovarian cancer patients were not due to differential levels of the degrading enzymes such as uridine 5'-diphosphate-galactose pyrophosphatase or beta-D-galactosidase. Serial determinations were carried out on the sera of 5 ovarian cancer patients over a long period of time. The serum level of galactosyltransferase activity appeared to correlate with tumor volume as well as with the clinical status of the patient, which suggests possible leakage of the tumor enzyme into the host sera. Serial determination of this enzyme level in ovarian cancer patients seems promising in measuring tumor progression or success of therapeutic approaches.