Abstract
Spermine, a member of polyamines, exists in all organisms and is essential for normal cell growth and function. It is highly expressed in the prostate compared with other organs and is detectable in urine, tissue, expressed prostatic secretions, and erythrocyte. A significant reduction of spermine level was observed in prostate cancer (PCa) tissue compared with benign prostate tissue, and the level of urinary spermine was also significantly lower in men with PCa. Decreased spermine level may be used as an indicator of malignant phenotype transformation from normal to malignant tissue in prostate. Studies targeting polyamines and key rate-limiting enzymes associated with spermine metabolism as a tool for PCa therapy and chemoprevention have been conducted with various polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors and polyamine analogues. The mechanism between spermine and PCa development are possibly related to the regulation of polyamine metabolism, cancer-driving pathways, oxidative stress, anticancer immunosurveillance, and apoptosis regulation. Although the specific mechanism of spermine in PCa development is still unclear, ongoing research in spermine metabolism and its association with PCa pathophysiology opens up new opportunities in the diagnostic and therapeutic roles of spermine in PCa management.
Highlights
The polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine are small polycations derived from amino acids and exist in all organisms; they are essential for normal cell growth and function [1]
These findings indicated that polyamine, especially spermine, played a regulatory role as an immunosuppressive effector by targeting T cells and suppressive myeloid cells, providing a survival mechanism and restored a more favorable tumor microenvironment to escape tumor immune response
Urinary spermine level was found to be significantly reduced in prostate cancer (PCa) and could serve as a potential biomarker for noninvasive diagnosis of PCa
Summary
The polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine are small polycations derived from amino acids and exist in all organisms; they are essential for normal cell growth and function [1]. An early study by Harrison [4] found that the human prostate gland synthesizes the highest levels of spermine per day, with an average of 130 mg/100 g, which is significantly higher than pancreas tissue that produce the second highest level of spermine per day (16 mg/100g). The purpose of this high synthesis rate is to excrete it into prostatic fluid, making the prostate the only human tissue where the largest proportion of its synthesized polyamines are primarily intended for exporting instead of supporting cell proliferation [5]. The high polyamine levels in the prostate, mainly spermine, may help us discover new biomarkers with high sensitivity to detect aggressive PCa and develop new therapies
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