Factor X-activating procoagulant in normal and malignant breast tissue

Factor X-activating activity (FXAA) was determined by a chromogenic assay in normal and malignant breast tissue. FXAA was found in all tissue (n = 38) irrespective of pathology, and the activity of normal tissue was similar to that of tumours. FXAA correlated with tissue hemoglobin in normal breast (p less than 0.02) but not in tumours. FXAA was markedly reduced by aluminium hydroxide, barium citrate, anti-human factor VII, DFP, PMSF and phospholipase C, but was unaffected by iodoacetamide and mercuric chloride. It is concluded that FXAA is a serine protease with the properties of a tissue factor-factor VII complex. FXAA occurs in normal and malignant breast tissue, although the 'normal' activity may be an artefact of the homogenization process.     

Glycoprotein patterns in normal and malignant cervical tissue.

Glycoproteins from normal and malignant human cervix were studied using an organ culture system and compared by gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Five glycoproteins of 178 kDa, 95 kDa, 93 kDa, 82 kDa and 38 kDa and 1 glycolipid (46 kDa) were detected more frequently in squamous carcinomas. Certain glycoproteins were shown to be oncofoetal and some had affinity for Concanavalin A (Con A). The 82 kDa glycoprotein was present in 16/17 squamous carcinomas but in only 1/13 normal cervices. This band represented a glycoprotein containing glucosamine, mannose, small quantities of methionine and no fucose. These preliminary results suggest that these glycoproteins and in particular the 82-kDa glycoprotein are worthy of further investigation and characterisation.     

Investigations of tissue folates in normal and malignant tissues

The folates present in liver, gut and tumour tissue were examined before and after autolysis. Before autolysis 10-formylfolate tetraglutamate (10-CHOFA(glu)4), 5-methyltetrahydrofolate triglutamate (5-CH3THF(glu)3) and possibly tetrahydrofolate polyglutamate(s) (THF(glu)n) were detected. Liver contained all 3 species whereas no 5-CH3THF(glu)3 was present in the tumours; gut showed an intermediate situation. After autolysis the predominant monoglutamates formed were 5-CH3THF in the liver, 10-formylfolates in the gut and possibly tetrahydrofolate (THF) in the tumour extracts. These differences illustrate changes in tissue folates with the proliferation rate of the tissue and suggest an explanation for the methionine auxotrophy of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma cells.     

Antigenic structure of normal and malignant breast tissue

The study was concerned with 13 antigens identified with the aid of a set of immune sera obtained from rabbits immunized with a nuclear, a membrane and a soluble fractions of normal and malignant mammary tissues as well as with the membranes of fat globules of breast milk. The antigens (1 nuclear, 4 soluble and 8 membraneous) were of different specificity: four--occurring in many organs, two--specific for milk only, three--organ-specific antigens which, however, persist in malignant tissues, and one--present in malignant tissue and absent from normal mammary and 25 other tissues tested. Such antigens as lactoferrin and alpha-lactalbumin were identified by immuno-enzymatic methods in the sera of a third of patients with tumors of different localizations.