ARYLSULFATASE-A PROTEIN IN SERA OF CANCER-PATIENTS

Arylsulfatase A is a lysosomal hydrolase catalyzing the desulfation of galactose-3-sulfate present in sulfated glycolipids, Due to the very low level of the sulfatase in human serum, the enzyme activity cannot be measured through colorimetric procedures employed routinely. We hav e developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for arylsulfatase A p rotein in serum using a polyclonal antibody against the sulfatase puri fied from human placenta. The measurable range of this immunoassay was from 2 to 100 ng/ml of serum, By this method, the serum arylsulfatase A level was found to be significantly elevated (p<0.01) in malignant lymphoma and colon cancer as compared with that of normal subjects.