Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 19, 2026

A Fluorescence-based Protocol for Preliminary Screening of Protein Synthesis Inhibitors from Natural Sources
10:24

A Fluorescence-based Protocol for Preliminary Screening of Protein Synthesis Inhibitors from Natural Sources

Published on: January 27, 2026

264

Polyamines and Cancer

Elisabetta Damiani1,2, Heather M Wallace3

  • 1School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|October 29, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The polyamine pathway is a key target in cancer treatment and prevention. Exploiting this pathway offers new strategies for chemotherapy, drug delivery, and chemoprevention in various cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The polyamine pathway is significantly disrupted in all cancer types.
  • Polyamines play crucial roles in cell proliferation and are upregulated in cancerous cells.
  • Targeting the polyamine pathway presents a promising strategy for cancer intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of targeting the polyamine pathway for cancer treatment and prevention.
  • To explore polyamine pathway's role in chemotherapy, drug delivery, and chemoprevention.
  • To discuss the potential and challenges of various therapeutic strategies involving polyamines.

Main Methods:

  • Review of chemotherapy agents targeting the polyamine pathway, including difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and polyamine analogues.
  • Investigation of polyamines as drug delivery vectors, utilizing their natural DNA binding and upregulated transport systems in cancer.
  • Analysis of chemoprevention strategies focused on interfering with polyamine metabolism and function.

Main Results:

  • Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and various polyamine analogues have been developed and tested for chemotherapy.
  • Polyamines and their analogues show potential as vectors for targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to cancer cells.
  • Strategies interfering with polyamine metabolism demonstrate antiproliferative effects, supporting chemoprevention.

Conclusions:

  • The polyamine pathway is a versatile target for developing novel cancer therapies.
  • Polyamines offer opportunities for both direct anti-cancer treatment and enhanced drug delivery systems.
  • Targeting polyamine metabolism is a viable approach for cancer chemoprevention and treatment.
Keywords:
CancerChemopreventionChemotherapyDrug deliveryPolyamines

More Related Videos

Cell Death Associated with Abnormal Mitosis Observed by Confocal Imaging in Live Cancer Cells15:53

Cell Death Associated with Abnormal Mitosis Observed by Confocal Imaging in Live Cancer Cells

Published on: August 21, 2013

15.6K
Synthesis of Aptamer-PEI-g-PEG Modified Gold Nanoparticles Loaded with Doxorubicin for Targeted Drug Delivery09:09

Synthesis of Aptamer-PEI-g-PEG Modified Gold Nanoparticles Loaded with Doxorubicin for Targeted Drug Delivery

Published on: June 23, 2020

6.6K

Related Concept Videos

Physical Properties of Amines01:26

Physical Properties of Amines

Amines with low molecular weight are usually gaseous at room temperature, while those with high molecular weight are liquid or solids in nature. Usually, low molecular weight amines have a rotten fish-like smell. Diamines typically have a pungent smell. For instance, cadaverine and putrescine, depicted in Figure 1, are two molecules responsible for decaying tissue.
4.3K
Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer01:19

Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer

Chronic stress has been linked to both the onset and progression of serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Type 2 diabetes, a widespread chronic illness, is closely associated with obesity and insulin resistance, both of which often worsen under stress. Studies indicate that men experiencing high levels of chronic stress face a 45% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with minimal stress. Stress triggers physiological responses that elevate blood...
523
Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
8.2K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.3K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.9K
Cancer02:18

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
54.7K