Alterations in serum glycosyltransferases and 5'-nucleotidase in breast cancer patients.

We have measured sialyltransferase, galactosyltransferase, and fucosyltransferase as sell as 5'-nucleotidase in the serum of breast cancer patients. Serum sialyltransferase values in 65 normal healthy females ranged from 2.6 to 8.5 units, with a mean of 5.4. In 25 women with operable primary breast cancer, serum sialyltransferase levels were found to be between 6.2 and 15.4 units. Marked elevation of this enzyme level (range, 8.8 to 36 units) was observed in 48 patients with metastatic breast cancer. Galactosyltransferase and fucosyltransferase measurements, however, showed considerable overlap between the controls and the cancer patients. On the other hand serum 5'-nucleotidase and sialyltransferase in breast cancer patients showed very similar patterns. Thus, serum 5'-nucleotidase values in 44 normal females ranged from 11.4 to 23.2 units, whereas the levels found in 30 patients with metastasis were between 25 and 71.8 units. The tissue origin of abnormal levels of serum glycosyltransferases and 5'-nucleotidase was discussed in relation to their physiological significance as well as their role as markers for diagnosing early malignant breast neoplasm and for monitoring the extent of metastasis.