THE SERUM LEVEL OF MANGANESE SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE IN PATIENTS WITH OVARIAN EPITHELIAL MALIGNANCY

The serum level of a scavenging enzyme, manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) was examined in 95 patients with ovarian epithelial malignanc y. The MnSOD values were variable according to the differences of surg ical stage, histologic type and histological grade. Factors affecting the MnSOD level were statistically analyzed. The stage and histologic type were less effective than the histological grade in determining th e serum MnSOD value. The level increased significantly in accordance w ith the elevation of grade. Although the mechanism remains unclear, th e MnSOD determination may be useful in predicting the histological gra de of ovarian carcinoma.