title: Ornithine decarboxylase activity as a biochemical marker in individuals predisposed to lung cancer.
abstract: Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the first enzyme in the pathway of mammalian polyamine biosynthesis. "Tumor promoters" appear to induce ODC. In addition, increased ODC activity has been observed in normal appearing colonic mucosa of patients with familial polyposis, an autosomal dominant disorder associated with a high incidence of colon cancer. Ornithine decarboxylase activity was measured in bronchoscopic mucosal biopsy specimens from the noninvolved lung in patients with unilateral lung masses. No correlation could be determined in ODC levels from "normal" mucosa between patients with lung cancer compared to those with benign disease, despite elevated ODC activity in the tumors themselves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Clinical Science Center, Madison.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Verma
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D001706:Biopsy; D001980:Bronchi / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000201:enzymology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002273:Carcinogens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase