Improved DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography in measuring amylase in serous ovarian neoplasms, and results for 13 cases.

We describe a column-chromatographic method for measuring amylase activity in cyst fluids of serous ovarian tumors. Using this technique, we confirm and extend the previous report of an "acidic" amylase in serous ovarian tumor cyst fluids. This form of the enzyme was eluted from DEAE-Sephadex mini-columns with a high-salt buffer. It accounted for 45 to 100% of the amylase in 13 cyst fluids. This "high-salt" amylase was also present in the tumor tissues. The acidic nature of the amylase does not appear to be due to sialic acid residues, because the chromatographic behavior of the amylase is unaffected by treatment with neuraminidase. We conclude that the "acidic" amylase reported previously in two serous ovarian tumors is a constant feature of these tumors and that it is distinct from the sialylated tumor amylase described by others.