[Ornithine decarboxylase activity and polyamine levels in human thyroid tumor tissue]. 1989

O Yamamoto
Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Production of polyamines such as putrescine (PUT), spermidine (SPD) and spermine (SPM) primarily from ornithine by ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is correlated with cell proliferation. Polyamine levels and ODC activities were measured to determine the degree of biological malignancy in 186 thyroid tumor tissues. Carcinoma showed significantly higher ODC activity and higher levels of PUT, SPD and SPM than benign tumors. PUT levels showed 2.28 nmol/mg protein in anaplastic carcinoma, 0.66 in papillary carcinoma, 0.11 in follicular adenoma, 0.06 in adenomatous goiter and 0.04 in normal thyroid tissue. Anaplastic and papillary carcinomas showed higher PUT/SPD and SPD/SPM ratios than benign tumors. Poorly differentiated carcinoma showed significantly higher PUT level and PUT/SPD and SPD/SPM ratios than well differentiated carcinoma. No correlation was found among polyamine levels, ages and sex in papillary carcinoma. In female patients with papillary carcinoma, no significant difference in polyamine levels was observed between patients above and below 50 years old. These results suggest that ODC activity and polyamine levels may provide useful information to determine the degree of biological malignancy of thyroid tumors.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009955 Ornithine Decarboxylase A pyridoxal-phosphate protein, believed to be the rate-limiting compound in the biosynthesis of polyamines. It catalyzes the decarboxylation of ornithine to form putrescine, which is then linked to a propylamine moiety of decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine to form spermidine. Ornithine Carboxy-lyase,Carboxy-lyase, Ornithine,Decarboxylase, Ornithine,Ornithine Carboxy lyase
D011700 Putrescine A toxic diamine formed by putrefaction from the decarboxylation of arginine and ornithine. 1,4-Butanediamine,1,4-Diaminobutane,Tetramethylenediamine,1,4 Butanediamine,1,4 Diaminobutane
D012016 Reference Values The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality. Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D002277 Carcinoma A malignant neoplasm made up of epithelial cells tending to infiltrate the surrounding tissues and give rise to metastases. It is a histological type of neoplasm and not a synonym for "cancer." Carcinoma, Anaplastic,Carcinoma, Spindle-Cell,Carcinoma, Undifferentiated,Carcinomatosis,Epithelial Neoplasms, Malignant,Epithelioma,Epithelial Tumors, Malignant,Malignant Epithelial Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Malignant Epithelial,Anaplastic Carcinoma,Anaplastic Carcinomas,Carcinoma, Spindle Cell,Carcinomas,Carcinomatoses,Epithelial Neoplasm, Malignant,Epithelial Tumor, Malignant,Epitheliomas,Malignant Epithelial Neoplasm,Malignant Epithelial Tumor,Malignant Epithelial Tumors,Neoplasm, Malignant Epithelial,Spindle-Cell Carcinoma,Spindle-Cell Carcinomas,Tumor, Malignant Epithelial,Undifferentiated Carcinoma,Undifferentiated Carcinomas
D002291 Carcinoma, Papillary A malignant neoplasm characterized by the formation of numerous, irregular, finger-like projections of fibrous stroma that is covered with a surface layer of neoplastic epithelial cells. (Stedman, 25th ed) Carcinomas, Papillary,Papillary Carcinoma,Papillary Carcinomas
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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