EFFECT OF ALCOHOL-ABUSE ON POLYAMINE METABOLISM IN HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA AND NONCANCEROUS HEPATIC TISSUE

Background. Alcohol abuse is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinom a (HCC) and the recurrence of HCC after resection. We therefore invest igated polyamine metabolism which is important in cell proliferation, HCC tissue, and noncancerous hepatic tissue. Methods. In 30 patients w ho underwent liver resection for HCC, 13 patients had drunk 86 gm or m ore ethanol per day for at least 10 years (group 1), whereas the remai ning 17 patients were non-drinkers or occasional drinkers (group 2). T he control subjects were five patients who did not have liver disease or abuse alcohol. Tissue ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and po lyamine concentrations were measured. Results. ODC activity in the HCC tissue was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. ODC activ ity in noncancerous tissue was significantly higher in group I than in group 2 and the control group. The ratio of spermidine/spermine in th e HCC tissue was significantly higher in group I than in group 2. The ratio in noncancerous tissue was significantly higher in groups I and 2 than in the control group. Conclusions. Alcohol abuse affects polyam ine metabolism, which influences the grade of malignancy of HCC. Hepat ic tissue has greater potential for carcinogenesis in patients with ch ronic liver disease and alcohol abuse than in patients without them.