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Detection in Human Ovary and Prostate Tumors of DNA Polymerase Activity That Copies Poly(2'-O-methylcytidylate) · oligodeoxyguanylate¹

Institute for Molecular Virology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110

Particulate DNA polymerase activity that copied poly(2'-O-methylcytidylate) · oligodeoxyguanylate and banded at a density of 1.15 to 1.20 g/ml in sucrose gradients was detected in 8 of 16 human ovary tumors and in 11 of 16 malignant prostate tissues. None of the 10 nonmalignant ovary and prostate tissues examined contained detectable particulate DNA polymerase activity that copled poly(2'-O-methylcytidylate) · oligodeoxyguanylate. Since poly(2'-O-methylcytidylate) · oligodeoxyguanylate is effectively copied by oncornavirus RNA-directed DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase) although not by the known species of human cell DNA polymerase, these results are interpreted as supporting the concept that some malignant human tissues contain particle-associated reverse transcriptase activity.

¹ Supported by National Cancer Institute Contract N01 CP 61049 within the Virus Cancer Program.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Institute for Molecular Virology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, 3681 Park Avenue, St. Louis, Mo.

³ Recipient of USPHS Research Career Award 5K6-AI4739 from the National Institute of Ailergies and Infectious Diseases.

Received 3/11/77. Accepted 1/16/78.