title: The activity of class I, II, III and IV alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes and aldehyde dehydrogenase in ovarian cancer and ovarian cysts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The metabolism of cancerous cells is in many ways different than in healthy cells. In ovarian cancer, cells exhibit activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which participate in metabolism of many biological substances. The aim of this study was to compare the metabolism of ovarian cancer cells, ovarian cysts and normal ovarian cells by measurement of ADH isoenzymes and ALDH activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study material consisted of 36 cancerous ovarian tissues. Class III, IV of ADH and total ADH activity was measured by the photometric method and class I, II ADH and ALDH activity by the fluorometric method with class-specific fluorogenic substrates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The activity of the class I ADH isoenzyme and the total ADH was significantly higher in ovarian cancer as compared to ovarian cysts and healthy tissues but there are no significant differences between ovarian cysts and healthy cells. The other classes of ADH tested, did not show significant differences between activity of cancerous cells and healthy ovary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased activity of total ADH in ovarian cancer, especially the class I isoenzyme and normal activity of ALDH, may be the factor for the disturbances in important biological substances metabolism and could increase the concentration of highly carcinogenic acetaldehyde.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Orywal
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Jelski
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Zdrodowski
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Szmitkowski
mesh_terms: D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000438:Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D007527:Isoenzymes; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase; C020145:formaldehyde dehydrogenase (glutathione); D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; D000079:Acetaldehyde