A rapid gas chromatographic method for the determination of plasma polyamines and its application to the prediction of tumour response to chemotherapy.
Isobutyloxycarbonyl derivatives of the polyamines, spermidine, spermine and putrescine in 1 ml plasma were analysed on a mixed phase, 1.5% SE-30, 0.15% FFAP, column by temperature-programmed gas chromatography using a nitrogen-sensitive glass bead detector. Levels in 60 normal subjects (mean +/- 2- S.D.) were 0.13 +/- 0.08 mumol/l for spermidine, 0.02 +/- 0.04 for spermine and less than or equal to 0.18 for putrescine. Elevated spermidine levels were found pre-treatment in only 20% of patients with advanced metastatic cancer, reflecting the lack of sensitivity of polyamines as markers for malignant disease. However, serial studies in 26 patients undergoing remission induction chemotherapy showed that a significant rise in plasma spermidine within 48 h correlated with subsequent clinical response (p less than 0.001). Tumour response to chemotherapy can be predicted by the assay of plasma polyamines.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011073:Polyamines / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis
D011073:Polyamines