The urine levels of
polyamine (total amount of
putrescine,
spermidine and
cadaverine) were measured in patients with or without
cancer by simple enzymatic assay method. In 148 control healthy adults, the urine levels of
polyamine were 23.1 +/- 7.1 mumole/g.
creatinine, whereas among 52 patients with benign diseases, the level in only 5 patients was slightly higher than normal level. The
polyamine levels in 170 patients with
cancer was 46.1 +/- 50.6 mumole/g.
creatinine, which was about 2-times higher than normal level. In the patients with
cancer of the stomach or the colon and rectum, the increase in
polyamine level appeared to be correlated with the clinical stage of
tumor. Following successful surgical resection of
cancer, the
polyamine level increased in one week transitorily after operation but gradually decreased to normal level within 5 weeks. Whereas following unsuccessful surgical resection of
cancer, the
polyamine value maintained high levels. The evidence suggests that the measurement of the urine level of
polyamine is useful for the diagnosis of
cancer or the clinical stage of
tumor, and it will be helpful in the evaluation of
therapeutic effects and prognosis.