Urinary acetylated polyamines in ovarian cancer.

5543 Background: Diacetylated polyamines have been detected in the urine of patients with malignant tumors since 1960s but methodological problems have hindered research. We have recently developed a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for a simultaneous analysis of 14 polyamines in free, mono- and diacetylated forms in human urine, without any derivatization. The present study was undertaken to explore urinary polyamine profiles in the differential diagnostics of ovarian tumors in postmenopausal women. Methods: Forty-five postmenopausal women presenting with an abnormal adnexal mass, and as controls, 21 women with genital prolapse scheduled for surgery, were included prospectively. A morning urine sample was obtained before surgery. The urinary concentrations of 14 polyamines were analyzed simultaneously with LC-MS/MS. Preoperative serum CA12-5 concentrations were also determined, and the risk of malignancy indexes (RMI) calculated in the research arm. The statistical analysi...