Polyamine excretion in the urine of cancer patients.

The polyamines putrescine, spermine, spermidine and cadaverine were determined in the urine of 56 cancer patients, most of whom suffered from breast or lung tumours. The excretion of spermine and putrescine was increased versus controls in a group of various cancers with metastases. The excretion of spermine, spermidine and cadaverine was increased in lung cancer without metastases. Polyamines were analysed in the urine of six women with breast cancer, before and after mastectomy. The excretion of putrescine, spermine and cadaverine was lower 6 to 9 months after the operation than before.