The importance of polyamines in prostatic growth and differentiation has prompted studies to evaluate the clinical relevance of the ornithine decarboxylase/polyamine system in prostatic cancer. These studies show that differences in biological behaviour of prostatic (cancer) cells are associated with changes in polyamine levels and/or the activity of their metabolic enzymes. Faulty antizyme regulation of polyamine homoeostasis may play an important role in the growth and progression of prostatic carcinoma. Treatment of human prostate carcinoma cells with inhibitors of polyamine metabolic enzymes or polyamine analogues induces cell growth arrest or (apoptotic) cell death. Our recent in vitro studies using conformationally restricted polyamine analogues show that these compounds inhibit cell growth, probably by inducing antizyme-mediated degradation of ornithine decarboxylase. Sensitivity of human prostate cancer cells for these compounds was increased in the absence of androgens. These results suggest that these analogues might have chemotherapeutic potential in case prostatic cancer has become androgen-independent. Pilot data in an in vivo model show that these analogues have effects on tumour cell proliferation, vascularity, blood perfusion and tissue hypoxia. Overall, these studies show that polyamines may serve as important biomarkers of prostatic malignancy and provide a promising target for chemotherapy of prostatic cancer.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
April 2003
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
Conference Article|
April 01 2003
Polyamines and prostatic cancer
R.G. Schipper;
R.G. Schipper
1
*Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (e-mail r.schipper@pathol.umcn.nl).
Search for other works by this author on:
J.C. Romijn;
J.C. Romijn
†Department of Urology, Erasmus Medical Centre, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for other works by this author on:
V.M.J.I. Cuijpers;
V.M.J.I. Cuijpers
*Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Search for other works by this author on:
A.A.J. Verhofstad
A.A.J. Verhofstad
*Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
Copyright 2003 Biochemical Society
2003
Biochem Soc Trans (2003) 31 (2): 375–380.
Citation
R.G. Schipper, J.C. Romijn, V.M.J.I. Cuijpers, A.A.J. Verhofstad; Polyamines and prostatic cancer. Biochem Soc Trans 1 April 2003; 31 (2): 375–380. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0310375
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.