Preliminary longitudinal studies of serum polyamines in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Polyamines, whose biosynthesis is a prerequisite for cell proliferation, are potential indicators of malignant growth. In view of this, serum polyamine levels were examined in longitudinal studies of patients with either colorectal carcinoma or Gardner's syndrome (inherited colonic polyposis possessing a potential for malignant degeneration). Of 10 patients examined longer than one year, serum polyamine levels reflected the disease status. This study indicates that biochemical surveillance of patients by polyamine analysis may be feasible and possibly applicable to other types of tumors.