Bone marrow polyamines in children with acute leukemia as related to remission status, therapy, and cellularity of specimens.

Measurements of polyamines have potential practicality as biochemical markers of disease activity in adult cancer patients. On this basis, similar measurements were made in children with leukemia and solid tumors. Fluctuations in blood polyamine concentration were studied in relationship to chemotherapy schematics, cellularity and composition of blood and bone marrow specimens, and remission status of patients. Our results indicate that each of these factors may influence these determinations and consequently their clinical usefulness.