Tumour cell death: the probable cause of increased polyamine levels in physiological fluids.
The occurrence of extracellular polyamines in Ehrlich ascites tumour-bearing mice was studied in relation to tumour growth. The concentration of putrescine and spermidine in cell-free ascites fluid and serum was found to increase significantly with increasing tumour mass. Data is presented which suggest that the observed accumulation of extracellular polyamines is a result of a continuous release from dead or dying tumour cells. This observation is consistent with the notion that extracellular polyamines accumulate during tumour growth and following radio- and chemotherapy as a result of tumour cell death, and emphasizes the potential clinical usefulness of the polyamine analysis for evaluating tumor cell kill.
D000818:Animals; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D002470:Cell Survival; D051379:Mice; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011700:Putrescine / Q000378:metabolism*; D013095:Spermidine / Q000378:metabolism*
D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine