title: Prognostic value of tissue polyamine levels in human colorectal carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polyamines are aliphatic cations that play critical roles in cell proliferation and differentiation and in cancer development. Abnormally high polyamine levels have been demonstrated in various types of cancer, but few studies have investigated the prognostic significance of tissue polyamine levels. In this study we evaluated the disease-free survival of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma according to the polyamine levels in neoplastic tissue and uninvolved surrounding mucosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 111 patients with colorectal carcinoma were included in this study. Tissue polyamine levels were evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly higher single and total polyamine levels were found in colorectal carcinoma compared to those from normal surrounding mucosa. Further, tumor spermine levels were a significant prognostic factor for disease recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in tumor spermine levels may affect the biological properties of the tumor and such differences could have a significant role in determining the outcome of colorectal cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, Scientific Institute for Digestive Disease-IRCCS S. de Bellis, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linsalata
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leo
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: D'Attoma
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Leo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011073:Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011700:Putrescine / Q000378:metabolism; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012016:Reference Values; D013095:Spermidine / Q000378:metabolism; D013096:Spermine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011073:Polyamines; D013096:Spermine; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine