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Polyamine profiles in tumor, normal tissue of the homologous breast, blood, and urine of breast cancer sufferers

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Abstract

Polyamines are involved in the development of breast cancer. We assayed polyamines in erythrocytes, urines, and breast tissues (tumor tissue and histologically normal breast tissue close to the tumor) of patients with invasive breast cancer (n=174) and benign breast disease (n=71, used as controls). Polyamine levels in red blood cells and urine were similar to the polyamine concentrations found in healthy subjects, and thus cannot be used as diagnostic markers of breast cancer. In cancer tissue, polyamines were significantly increased in comparison with the polyamine concentrations in controls, and were correlated to the tumor aggressiveness as evaluated by histological grade and Ki-67 proliferative index. On the other hand, correlation was found between polyamine levels in the tumor and the status of the hormone receptors. In the mammary tissue close to the cancer, polyamines dramatically decreased in comparison with the polyamine levels of tissue samples removed around the histologically proven benign tumors. The changes of the polyamine concentrations in the histologically normal breast tissue in the vicinity of the cancer could play a role in the cancer development and need further studies, especially if polyamines are considered as a potential therapeutic target in breastcancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté de Médecine de Rennes, Groupe de Recherche en Thérapeutique AntiCancéreuse UPRES-A CNRS 6027, France

    Jean Levêque, Jean-Yves Bansard, Rene Havouis & Jacques-Philippe Moulinoux

  2. Service de Gynécologie B, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Rennes, Hôpital Sud, Rennes, France

    Jean Levêque

  3. Service de Gynécologie B, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Rennes, Hôpital Sud, 16 Bd de Bulgarie, BP 56129, Rennes, France

    Fabrice Foucher & Jean-Yves Grall

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  1. Jean Levêque
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  7. Jacques-Philippe Moulinoux
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Levêque, J., Levêque, J., Foucher, F. et al. Polyamine profiles in tumor, normal tissue of the homologous breast, blood, and urine of breast cancer sufferers. Breast Cancer Res Treat 60, 99–105 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006319818530

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