Ovarian tumor antigens

Evidence has been reported for at least two common tumor-associated antigens, or antigenic determinants, in human cystadenocarcinomas of the ovary that are apparently absent in tissues of normal reproductive organs. These antigenic determinants are immunologically distinct from carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, ferritins and histocompatibility antigens. One of these two ovarian cystadenocarcinoma-associated antigens (OCAA) is not detectable in any ovarian carcinomas except serous or mucinous types, other gynecologic or nongynecologic malignancies thus far tested, while the second antigen is present in about 90% of all gynecologic tumors and occasionally in breast and colon tumors. OCAA has been purified and partially characterized. It is a high molecular weight glycoprotein which carries the unique ovarian tumor-specific antigenic determinant along with some normal cross-reacting determinants. High levels of this glycoprotein antigen have been detected in the sera of ovarian cancer patients with advanced disease by the radioimmunoassay inhibition technique. The serial determination of circulating OCAA appeared to correlate with tumor volume as well as the clinical status of the patients.

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.

Tumor-associated antigen for cystadenocarcinomas of the ovary

An ovarian cystadenocarcinoma-associated antigen (OCAA) was found to be common to all serous and mucinous cystadenocarcinomas of the ovary. It was apparently absent in tissues of normal reproductive organs. Furthermore, OCAA was not detected in benign ovarian serous and mucinous cyst-adenomas or in any other gynecologic or nongynecologic cancers thus far tested. The antigenic determinant of OCAA was immunologically unrelated to the carcinoembryonic antigen, other known tumor antigens, or the histocompatibility antigens. We purified and partially characterized OCAA. The antigen was a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein soluble in 0.6 M perchloric acid. It consisted of about 50-60% protein (based on dry wt). Amino acid composition in OCAA was characterized by a high percentage of threonine, serine, proline, and valine. Galactose and N-acetylglucosamine were the principal carbohydrate constituents. The antigenic activity was resistant to treatment with trypsin and protease and also to treatment with DNase, RNase, and N-acetylneuraminidase. The antigenicity was considerably reduced by mild periodate oxidation.