Clinical value of serum glycoprotein galactosyltransferase levels in different histological types of ovarian carcinoma.

Serum glycoprotein galactosyltransferase levels were determined in 28 healthy women and 113 patients with ovarian carcinoma with various histological types, at different clinical stages. Ovomucoid, which possesses terminal N-acetylglucosaminyl residues, was used as glycoprotein acceptor. Clinical correlations between galactosyltransferase levels and tumor burden were examined, as well as the variations due to histology. Follow-up studies could be done for 60 patients, and correlations with clinical evolution, established. Galactosyltransferase might be a promising marker for the diagnosis and follow-up of ovarian carcinomas.