POLYAMINE LEVELS IN VARIOUS TISSUES OF RATS TREATED WITH 3-HYDROXY-4-METHOXYCINNAMIC ACID AND 3,4-DIMETHOXYCINNAMIC ACID

The effects of 3-hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid (3H4MCA) and 3,4-dimet hoxycinnamic acid (3,4DMCA) on body weight, organ weight, and the cont ents of putrescine, spermidine and spermine in 15 different tissues we re examined in rats that had been given these compounds for 5 days. In 3H4MCA-treated rats, the weight of the spleen was significantly incre ased, while none of the other organs showed any significant changes. A diet containing either 3H4MCA or 3,4DMCA should not be taken by patie nts bearing cancers in the seminal vesicles, spleen or liver, and a di et containing 3,4DMCA should not be taken by patients bearing cancers in the testis, kidney, muscle, small intestine or brain (cortex) becau se of the significant increases in polyamines, which are associated wi th a risk of cancer growth, in these tissues. However, a diet containi ng 3H4MCA is recommended for the management of cancers in the skeletal muscle (femoral), tongue, small intestine (jejunum), stomach, lung an d brain based on reductions in polyamines which stimulate tumor growth . A diet containing 3,4DMCA is also recommended for cancer in the pros tate, thymus and stomach for the same reason. In addition, a synergic therapeutic effect for the treatment of cancers in these tissues may b e anticipated by a combination of such a diet with anti-cancer drugs w hich reduce polyamine levels. The metastasis of cancers in these tissu es may also be inhibited by the reduction of polyamines by these acids . The ratio of spermidine to spermine was significantly higher in the lung of 3H4MCA-treated rats, and lower in the seminal vesicle, thymus, kidney, heart, tongue, stomach and lung of 3,4DMCA-treated rats, than in control rats. The present experiment indicated that cancer patient s should pay careful attention to endogenous polyamines in tissues bea ring tumors induced by chemicals in ingesta and anti-cancer drugs, in addition to exogenous polyamines.