Ceruloplasmin elevation and synthesis in rats with transplantable tumors.

In rats with transplantable mammary or hepatic tumors, plasma ceruloplasmin oxidase activity was increased 50--200%. This occurred progressively with tumors weighing 0.3% of body weight of more, and did not occur upon sham operation or implantation of normal tissue. Incorporation of [3H]-leucine indicated a specific enhancement of ceruloplasmin synthesis in the tumor-bearing rats, and a greater state of activation of the enzyme was also observed. The mechanism of the increase in ceruloplasmin levels in rats and humans with cancer thus appears to involve increased synthesis and activation of the enzyme.