Regulation of polyamine and cancer

Abstract

This review describes my work in the field of polyamine research for the last 35 years. My research started with developing the improved synthesis of decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine and then moved to the purification of spermidine synthase from rat prostate. I also took considerable efforts to find the synthetic procedure for various polyamines with high yield in order to prepare 15N-labeled polyamines. On the basis of these methodological work, I searched for the inhibitor of spermidine synthase and found trans-4-methylcyclohexylamine (MCHA), the most effective one at the present time. I also developed a new analytical method for polyamines using stable isotope and ionspray ionization mass spectrometry (IS-MS). Based on these studies I examined the role of polyamines in liver regeneration and found that oral administration of MCHA effectively changed the concentration of polyamines and inhibited the hepatic growth. I also found the close relation̄ship between the concentration ratio of spermidine to spermine and the extent of liver regeneration. These results may shed new light on the control of cell growth by polyamine in vivo. © 2006 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.