In order to investigate the presence of ribonucleases (RNases) and proteins specific for prostate cancer and to evaluate the significance of nucleic acid degradating enzymes in prostate cancer tissues, protein content and activities of deoxyribonuclease (DNase) and RNase were determined in cancer tissue, and proteins and the enzymes were separated and fractionated by a DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The results were compared with those in benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) tissue.
(1) In prostate cancer tissue, concentions of DNA, RNA and protein were significantly increased, but activities of acid DNase and neutral RNase were unchanged as compared with those in BPH tissue. The results indicate that DNA, RNA and protein contents could be used as biochemical markers for the prostate cancer.
(2) Activitis of serum neutral and acid RNases were unchanged in BPH, but significantly increased in prost cancer, as compared with those of the control.
(3) Proteins in the prostate cancer tissue were separated by a DEAE-cellulose column chromatography into 6 peaks, of which 4 peaks exhibited RNase activity. At least one peak protein appeared to be specific to the prostate cancer and two protein peaks (one RNase isozyme protein peak and one non-RNase protein peak) present in BPH tissue disappeared in the cancer tissue.
Results obtained in the present study suggested that RNases were present in mulitple as isozyme forms in the prostate cancer tissue and that change in RNase isozyme pattern might be more useful for understanding the nature of prostate cancer than change in total activity of RNase.
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