title: Polyamines and nucleic acids in gestational trophoblastic tumors.
abstract: To test the relationship between tumor malignancy and content and distribution of polyamines and nucleic acids, 2 forms of human gestational trophoblastic tumors were examined: the hydatidiform mole (self-limited form) and the human chorio-carcinoma (invasive form) xenografted into nude mice. The results indicate that there are 2 significant differences between the choriocarcinoma and the mole: 1) the choriocarcinoma is characterized by increased polyamine and nucleic acid levels, 2) tissues differ in their putrescine:spermidine and spermidine:spermine ratios. There is an increase in polyamines in the urine of mole-bearing patients over that of normal controls. The correlation between putrescine and spermidine with the chorionic gonadotropin indicates that these 2 polyamines reflect the biological activity of the mole.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cecco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerra
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pasquinelli
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pagnano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paladini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000032:analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011073:Polyamines / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011700:Putrescine / Q000032:analysis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D013095:Spermidine / Q000032:analysis; D013096:Spermine / Q000032:analysis; D014328:Trophoblastic Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D011073:Polyamines; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D013096:Spermine; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine