Risk analysis of carcinogenesis in the remnant stomach with measurement of ornithine decarboxylase activity.

Gastric ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity was measured as a biomarker of tumor-promoting activity in the remnant stomach of rats and humans. Gastrectomy of Wistar rats utilizing the Billroth I method caused a significantly high induction of ODC, and use of the Billroth II method caused a significantly higher induction of ODC than the Billroth I method. In humans, ODC activity of remnant gastric cancer tissue, normal-appearing mucosa of remnant gastric cancer patient, and remnant gastric mucosa without cancer after the Billroth II method were significantly higher than that of normal gastric mucosa without gastrectomy. ODC activity of remnant gastric mucosa without cancer after the Billroth II method was significantly higher than that after the Billroth I method. Risk of carcinogenesis was high in the remnant stomach, especially after the Billroth II method.