title: A rapid gas chromatographic method for the determination of plasma polyamines and its application to the prediction of tumour response to chemotherapy.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D011073:Polyamines