[Urine levels of polyamine in patients with or without cancer]

The urine levels of polyamine (total amount of putrescine, spermidine and cadaverine) were measured in patients with or without cancer by simple enzymatic assay method. In 148 control healthy adults, the urine levels of polyamine were 23.1 +/- 7.1 mumole/g. creatinine, whereas among 52 patients with benign diseases, the level in only 5 patients was slightly higher than normal level. The polyamine levels in 170 patients with cancer was 46.1 +/- 50.6 mumole/g. creatinine, which was about 2-times higher than normal level. In the patients with cancer of the stomach or the colon and rectum, the increase in polyamine level appeared to be correlated with the clinical stage of tumor. Following successful surgical resection of cancer, the polyamine level increased in one week transitorily after operation but gradually decreased to normal level within 5 weeks. Whereas following unsuccessful surgical resection of cancer, the polyamine value maintained high levels. The evidence suggests that the measurement of the urine level of polyamine is useful for the diagnosis of cancer or the clinical stage of tumor, and it will be helpful in the evaluation of therapeutic effects and prognosis.