Abstract
Isobutyloxycarbonyl derivatives of the polyamines, spermidine, spermine and putrescine in 1 ml plasma were analysed on a mixed phase, 1.5% SE-30, 0.15% FFAP, column by temperature-programmed gas chromatography using a nitrogen-sensitive glass bead detector. Levels in 60 normal subjects (mean ±2 S.D.) were 0.13 ± 0.08 μmol/l for spermidine, 0.02 ± 0.04 for spermine and ⩽ 0.18 for putrescine. Elevated spermidine levels were found pre-treatment in only 20% of patients with advanced metastatic cancer, reflecting the lack of sensitivity of polyamines as markers for malignant disease. However, serial studies in 26 patients undergoing remission induction chemotherapy showed that a significant rise in plasma spermidine within 48 h correlated with subsequent clinical response ( p < 0.001). Tumour response to chemotherapy can be predicted by the assay of plasma polyamines.
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