Metallothionein levels in ovarian tumours before and after chemotherapy

Abstract

The metallothionein content of ovarian tumours is considerably higher than that found in normal ovaries (> 100-fold differences in mean values, P <0. 001). There was no difference between the metallothionein content of tumours from patients who had completed chemotherapy, usually with a regimen containing a platinum drug, and tumours from untreated patients. Similarly, the level of metallothionein was not influenced by response to therapy, age, stage, histology, or tumour cell differentiation state. These data do not support the hypothesis that metallothionein content is a major determinant of tumour sensitivity in ovarian cancer. © Macmillan Press Ltd., 1991.