Relationship among red blood cell polyamine content, phagocytic activitiesand plasma endotoxins in untreated colorectal cancer patients

Polyamines are actively involved in immune processes and it is known that p atients with cancer often exhibit immune deficits. Twenty-two patients with colorectal cancer were enrolled into this study, before starting conventio nal treatments. The relationship among the content of polyamines in red blo od cells and phagocytosis and killing of monocytes and polymorphonuclear ce lls, and endotoxemia was investigated. The data show a negative correlation among levels of total polyamines and spermine and monocyte phagocytosis. H igher levels of spermine were present in patients with detectable circulati ng endotoxins. Our findings suggest a down-modulating effect of polyamines on the monocyte phagocytosis in untreated colorectal cancer patients; this effect could explain the presence of circulating endotoxins in cancer beari ng patients.