# POLYAMINE METABOLISM AND COLON CANCER

> **NIH NIH R01** · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $20,129

## Abstract

These studies seek to elucidate the role of polyamine biosynthesis in:
(1)\intestinal and colon epithelial cell growth and differentiation;
(2)\neoplastic transformation of colonic epithelial cells; and (3)\the
chemotherapy prophylaxis and chemotherapy of human colon polyps and colon
cancer.  Colon cancer is the leading cause of death due to malignancy in
men and women combined, and currently the exact pathogenesis of colon
cancer remains unknown.  Our studies will probe the role of increased
polyamine biosynthesis in the neoplastic transformation process of
investigating:  (1)\relationships between polyamine biosynthesis and DNA
replication in normal intestinal epithelial cells induced to proliferate
and differentiate by the processes of maturation, regeneration, and
adaptive hyperplasia; (2)\changes in polyamine biosynthesis which
accompany, in a rat model of carcinogen-induced colon cancers, the
different stages of neoplastic evolution; and (3)\polyamine biosynthetic
activity in the colonic epithelium of patients and at-risk family members
in kindreds with familial colonic polyposis, including the different stages
of development of polyps and subsequent progression to colon cancer.  In
all of our studies, we will probe the functional role of polyamine
biosynthesis for each biologic process by selectively inhibiting the first
enzymatic synthesis step in the pathway with alpha difluoromethylornithine
(DFMO).  This maneuver may have therapeutic implications for altering the
course of polyp development and/or treating colon cancer.  (S)

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3175613
- **Project number:** 3R01CA037789-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** M6K6NTJ2MNE5
- **Principal Investigator:** GORDON D LUK
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $20,129
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1987-01-01 → 1988-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3175613

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3175613, POLYAMINE METABOLISM AND COLON CANCER (3R01CA037789-04S1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3175613. Licensed CC0.

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