ADENOSINE-N6-DIETHYLTHIOETHER-N1-PYRIDOXIMINE 5'-PHOSPHATE - A NOVEL MARKER FOR HUMAN CANCER-DETECTION

The Schiff base conjugate of vitamin B6 with adenosine-N6-diethylthioe ther was originally reported as unknown compound B6X and considered to function as a storage form for vitamin B6 utilization by tumor cells (1). This novel compound is present in tumor cells in culture, the blo od of normal and tumor-bearing animals, and the circulation of healthy individuals and patients with various ailments including malignancies (2-6). However, its level in the blood of cancer patients is signific antly much greater -a desirable feature for cancer detection. Using HP LC pair-ion, reverse phase chromatography blood samples from patients with various malignancies and ailments were screened on a blind basis for the novel compound following it extraction at pH 4.2 (1.4.5.6). Th e results show that the level of the vitamin B6 metabolite in the bloo d of cancer patients is up to 4x or higher than levels seen in the blo od of normal volunteers, patients in remission or patients with other diseases. In addition, patients receiving treatment had lower levels t han before treatment. Normal volunteers, cancer patients at remission and patients with other ailments had levels of 162.2; 601.7; 497.9; 21 6.5 and 179.3 (SEM range +/- 18.76-46.60), respectively. A comparison of the control, remission and other ailments groups with cancer patien ts groups shows them to be significantly different (P<0.00001) and str ongly supports the use of the novel vitamin B6 conjugate metabolite fo r detection of human cancers.