Increased urinary levels of RNA catabolites in mice as early indicators for malignant growth

It is known that human cancer patients exhibit an altered urinary excretion pattern of modified nucleosides and bases, that mice bearing skin tumors excrete increased amounts of various modified nucleosides and bases, and that the onset of altered excretion of modified RNA constituents precedes tumor diagnosis. We have now obtained similar results in mice for lymphoblastic leukemia induced by a single exposure to X-ray irradiation. Mice showing severe leukemic symptoms excrete severalfold amounts of modified nucleosides in their 24-hr urine, when compared with untreated controls. X-ray-treated mice, showing no visible symptoms except increased excretion rates of these RNA constituents, were sacrificed and histologically examined. (Pre)leukemic features in spleen and lymph nodes were observed. Our results provide further evidence in support of the use of RNA catabolites as a basis for the development of an early noninvasive screening method for cancer in human beings.