title: Polyamines levels in colorectal cancer: new markers?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate free polyamine and acetyl derivate levels in colorectal cancer, precancerous lesions and a control group in order to investigate if there are different concentrations between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this study, in the Department of Surgical Sciences of Catania University we observed 62 patients affected by colorectal cancer, 32 affected by precancerous lesions and 20 used as the control group. In each patient we performed an endoscopic biopsy on the lesion, one 5 cm to the lesion and one 10 cm to the lesion. In each biopsy were detected polyamines concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant increment of free and acetylated polyamines levels in neoplastic patients in comparison with non-neoplastic. Polyamines levels are increased at the site of cancer in comparison of adjacent colonic mucosa. In addition polyamines levels are increased in normal colon mucosa from cancer patients compared with the mucosa of control patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant increment of polyamines levels at the site of cancer in comparison of non-neoplastic mucosa and adjacent colonic mucosa give them the possibility to occupy an important role in early detection of colon cancer by acting like oncological markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Organ Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Naso
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lanteri
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Acquaviva
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Licata
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonanno
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Licata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011073:Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism; D011700:Putrescine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D013095:Spermidine / Q000378:metabolism; D013096:Spermine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011073:Polyamines; D013096:Spermine; C026212:N-acetylputrescine; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine