POLYAMINE LEVELS AND ODC ACTIVITY IN INTESTINAL-TYPE AND DIFFUSE-TYPEGASTRIC-CARCINOMA

Gastric carcinomas are divided into two types according to Lauren's cl assification: intestinal and diffuse types, Polyamines (putrescine, sp ermidine, and spermine) are polycations involved in neoplastic growth of gastrointestinal mucosa, A key role is also played by ornithine dec arboxylase, the rate limiting enzyme in polyamine metabolism, Our aim was to investigate whether there were differences between the two type s of tumor in polyamine metabolism. Twenty-seven patients with gastric carcinoma entered the study. Seventeen carcinomas were classified as diffuse type and 10 as intestinal type, Polyamine levels were evaluate d by high-performance liquid chromatography. Ornithine decarboxylase a ctivity was measured by a radiometric technique. Polyamine levels and ornithine decarboxylase activity were significantly higher in intestin al type samples than diffuse type samples, A similarity of polyamine l evels in intestinal type samples with levels previously observed in pa tients with colorectal adenocarcinoma was also found. These findings s how a different proliferative behavior of these two types of tumor, an d therefore different therapeutic strategies can be hypothesized.