Polyamines—organic cations such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine—play fundamental roles in cell growth and proliferation.
– They are synthesized from amino acid precursors via key enzymes such as ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase.
– Enzymes such as ODC are frequently found to be overexpressed in malignant tissues, driving increased synthesis of polyamines.
– Many cancers exhibit increased polyamine levels, either through upregulated biosynthetic pathways or decreased catabolism.
– Elevated Polyamine Levels: Numerous studies have shown that high levels of polyamines are present in various cancers, including colorectal, prostate, breast, and liver cancers. Measurements can be performed in tumor tissues or in body fluids such as urine, serving as potential non-invasive biomarkers.
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