Altered polyamine profiles in prostatic hyperplasia and in kidney tumors.

Polyamine concentrations were evaluated in normal human prostatic tissue as well as hyperplastic prostate. Normal tissues had high concentrations of putrescine and spermine with intermediate spermidine concentrations, whereas there was a dramatic increase in the spermine concentration in patients with hypertrophy of the prostate. Although not highly significant, spermidine concentrations were elevated slightly in benign hyperplasia, whereas the putrescine content was decreased compared to normal tissue. Polyamine concentrations were measured also in human kidney tumors and corresponding healthy kidney tissue. The concentration of spermidine in renal carcinomas was significantly elevated when compared to histologically normal areas of the same kidney. The spermine concentration of the tumor was generally lower but not highly significant (p less than 0.01). These data suggest that polyamines are accumulated above normal levels in pathological conditions such as benign hyperplasia of the prostate and renal carcinoma. In both cases, spermidine turnover rate may be influenced by carcinogenesis.