Polyamine Metabolism and Its Importance in Neoplastic Growth and as a Target for Chemotherapy

Anthony E. Pegg

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    1564 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    The polyamine-biosynthetic pathway represents an inviting target for the development of agents inhibiting carcinogenesis and tumor growth. Polyamines play an essential role in the proliferation and development of mammalian cells. Deranged polyamine metabolism may be an important factor in carcinogenesis. Depletion of polyamines inhibits growth of neoplastic cells in vitro and in animal models. Several different classes of other anticancer agents may under some conditions exert enhanced effects when polyamine levels are depleted. Some suitable inhibitors of polyamine production are currently available and other promising compounds are presently being tested. It should soon prove possible to block polyamine biosynthesis at every step in the pathway. The use of these inhibitors alone and combined either with each other or with other antitumor agents will enable a full examination of the potential of this approach.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)759-774
    Number of pages16
    JournalCancer Research
    Volume48
    Issue number4
    StatePublished - 1988

    All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

    • Oncology
    • Cancer Research

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