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Abstract #4772

Assesing Prostate Cancer Growth with Intact Tissue MRS and MRNA of Spermine Anabolic Enzymes

Leo L. Cheng1, David Kaul2, Chin-Lee Wu3, Christen Adkins, Kate Jordan, Piet Habbel4, Randall Peterson5, W. Scott McDougal, Ute Pohl

1Radiology/Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States; 2Pathology/ Center for Anatomy, Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Charite - Universitatsmedizin; 3Pathology/Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital; 4Center for Anatomy, Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Charite - Universitatsmedizin; 5Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital


The inability of current pathology to distinguish between a latent form of prostate cancer and a fast growing tumor necessitates new assays that can determine tumor biological activity. We measured concentrations of spermine, an endogenous PCa growth inhibitor, from prostatectomy tissue with HRMAS 1HMRS, and quantified the expression levels of mRNA for enzymes in the spermine synthesis and degradation pathways for different pathological features. Our findings suggest the presence of PCa activates spermine production, which delays PCa progression. These enzyme related mRNA results could potentially be implemented in the clinic, allowing patients to make a more informed decision about treatment.