Plasminogen activator activity and molecular weight patterns in human brain tumors.
Fresh human brain-tumor samples were assayed for their plasminogen activator (PA) content. Specific molecular weight patterns were identified for each of five common brain tumors and for normal brain, suggesting a cell-specific origin of the various PA forms. Malignant tumors contained higher PA activity and a larger number of molecular weight patterns than benign tumors, with the exception of acoustic neurinomas. Irradiated tumors contained lower PA activity than nonirradiated tumors. Finally, a slight but definite correlation between brain edema and PA activity was detected. The future role of brain-tumor PA's for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes is discussed.
Sawaya
R
R
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio.
Highsmith
R
R
D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000201:enzymology; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000201:enzymology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D005910:Glioma / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008579:Meningioma / Q000201:enzymology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000201:enzymology; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000032:analysis*
D010960:Plasminogen Activators