Biochemical markers in ovarian cancer.

Fucose and sialic acid were measured in 41 patients with malignant ovarian tumors and in 25 patients with benign tumors. Supplementary, serial determinations done in 20 patients, with advanced ovarian cancer subjected to primary or secondary surgery (optimal tumor debulking) and subsequent chemotherapy enables to suggest the possibility to use these parameters as markers in monitoring ovarian cancer evolution and treatment.

Autodigestion of chromatin in some radiosensitive and radioresistant mouse cells. Role of proteolysis and endonucleolysis.

Evidence is presented indicating that mouse thymus, spleen, kidney, lung and heart contain a protease activity with relatively high specificity for histones. It is suggested that degradation of chromatin occurring in irradiated lymphoid tissues is produced by the action of alkaline endonuclease in association with this histone protease. The autodigestion of chromatin was assessed by determining the release of soluble chromatin from cells suspended in sucrose media of low ionic strength.