Polyamines and prostatic carcinoma: clinical and therapeutic implications.

The erythrocyte polyamines, spermidine and spermine, are known proliferation markers. The authors present their experience with polyamines and prostatic carcinoma. 229 patients with prostatic carcinoma had polyamine erythrocyte determination at diagnosis. Previous results confirmed a tendency to spermidine increase with tumor stage and a significant increase in spermine in metastatic and hormonal escape patients. No correlation was found between polyamine erythrocyte levels and hemoglobin, prostate-specific antigen or tumor grade. 148 prostatic carcinoma patients were followed up. Their pretreatment erythrocyte polyamine levels were correlated to progression. Patients (whatever stage) with rapid progression present significantly enhanced pretreatment erythrocyte spermine levels compared to patients with a favorable outcome. Polyamines are not only proliferation markers but are also necessary for cell division. The authors present their results on polyamine deprivation, combining a polyamine-free diet, polyamine synthesis inhibitors and intestinal tract decontamination, on in vivo tumor growth inhibition of the murine prostatic carcinoma Dunning Mat LyLu tumor model.