title: Assessment of ornithine decarboxylase activity in rectal mucosa as a marker for colorectal adenomas and carcinomas.
abstract: We have investigated the role of ornithine decarboxylase activity in rectal mucosa as a marker for colorectal neoplasia. Biopsies of normal rectal mucosa were taken from 18 patients with adenomas greater than 1 cm diameter, 11 with carcinomas and 16 controls. The mean ornithine decarboxylase activity in normal rectal mucosa of adenoma patients, 6.52 nmol CO2 released h-1 (mg cell protein)-1, was significantly lower than that in controls, 16.8, P = 0.006. The difference in rectal ornithine decarboxylase activities between cancer patients, 3.58, and controls was also significant, P = 0.001. These preliminary results suggest that ornithine decarboxylase may be a useful marker in screening for colorectal neoplasia.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D012007:Rectum / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase