Urine GABA levels in ovarian cancer patients: elevated GABA in malignancy

The association of malignancy with elevated diamine oxidase (DAO), an enzym e producing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is well documented. In ovarian c ancer, increased DAO occurs in the malignant tissues and plasma. Since high er DAO levels cause GABA accumulation, elevated GABA may occur in ovarian c ancer and be reflected in urine. We tested this hypothesis and found that h alf the ovarian cancer patients had a clearly elevated urine GABA, a result that is in agreement with previous reports on DAO and malignancy. The publ ished findings on DAO, GABA and malignancy suggest that elevated GABA is as sociated with cancer. This proposal could lead to a GABA urine monitor or n ew directions in cancer treatment or research. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ir eland Ltd. All rights reserved.