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Heme biosynthesis in human breast cancer—mimetic “in vitro” studies and some heme enzymic activity levels

1990; Elsevier BV; Volume: 22; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0020-711x(90)90230-z

1878-6014

Nora M. Navone, César F. Polo, Alberto L. Frisardi, Nelida E. Andrade, alcira M. del C. Baille,

Neonatal Health and Biochemistry

1. Porphyrin biosynthesis from 5-aminoevulinic acid (ALA) was investigated using the technique of tissue explant cultures, in both human breast cancer and its original normal tissue. 2. The activity of ALA-dehydratase, porphobilinogenase and uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase was directly determined in both tumor and normal mammary tissues. 3. Porphyrin synthesis capacity of human breast carcinoma was 20-fold enhanced, as compared with normal tissue, at least between the stages of porphobilinogen and coproporphyrinogen formation. 4. The activity of the three enzymes examined was always lower in normal tissue than in tumoral tissue. 5. Present findings show that porphyrin biosynthesis is increased in breast cancer tissue.