POLYAMINES AND PROSTATIC-CARCINOMA - CLINICAL AND THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS

The erythrocyte polyamines, spermidine and spermine, are known prolife ration markers. The authors present their experience with polyamines a nd prostatic carcinoma. 229 patients with prostatic carcinoma had poly amine erythrocyte determination at diagnosis. Previous results confirm ed a tendency to spermidine increase with tumor stage and a significan t increase in spermine in metastatic and hormonal escape patients. No correlation was found between polyamine erythrocyte levels and hemoglo bin, prostate-specific antigen or tumor grade. 148 prostatic carcinoma patients were followed up. Their pretreatment erythrocyte polyamine l evels were correlated to progression. Patients (whatever stage) with r apid progression present significantly enhanced pretreatment erythrocy te spermine levels compared to patients with a favorable outcome. Poly amines are not only proliferation markers but are also necessary for c ell division. The authors present their results on polyamine deprivati on, combining a polyamine-free diet, polyamine synthesis inhibitors an d intestinal tract decontamination, on in vivo tumor growth inhibition of the murine prostatic carcinoma Dunning Mat LyLu tumor model.