Evaluating the utility of N1,N12-diacetylspermine and N1,N8-diacetylspermidine in urine as tumor markers for breast and colorectal cancers

Background: Among natural polyamines, the concentrations of the diacetylated form of spermine and spermidine increase in the urine of patients with Cancer. We evaluated the utility of urinary N(1),N(12)-diacetylspermine (DiAcSpm) and N(1),N(8)-diacetylspermidine (DiAcSpd) as tumor markers for breast and colorectal cancers.

Methods: Urinary DiAcSpm and DiAcSpd concentrations were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Urine and serum samples were collected from 33 and 28 patients with colorectal and breast cancers, respectively. The sensitivity of urine samples to DiAcSpm and DiAcSpd concentrations was compared with serum concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen CA 15-3 in breast Cancer patients and with serum concentrations of CEA and CA 19-9 in colorectal Cancer patients, respectively.

Results: In breast Cancer patients, the sensitivity of DiAcSpm and DiAcSpd was 46.4% and 14.2%, respectively, which was higher than that of CEA and CA 15-3. In patients with colorectal Cancer, the sensitivity of DiAcSpm and DiAcSpd was 69.6% and 36.3%, respectively. CEA was the second sensitive marker and CA 19-9 was the least sensitive marker in these patients.

Conclusion: DiAcSpm is a highly sensitive tumor marker. DiAcSpm can serve as a powerful tool in settings such as initial screening for cancers in routine health examination.