Background: Alcohol abuse is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the recurrence of HCC after resection. We therefore investigated polyamine metabolism, which is important in cell proliferation, HCC tissue, and noncancerous hepatic tissue.
Methods: In 30 patients who underwent liver resection for HCC, 13 patients had drunk 86 gm or more ethanol per day for at least 10 years (group 1), whereas the remaining 17 patients were nondrinkers or occasional drinkers (group 2). The control subjects were five patients who did not have liver disease or abuse alcohol. Tissue ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and polyamine concentrations were measured.
Results: ODC activity in the HCC tissue was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. ODC activity in noncancerous tissue was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 and the control group. The ratio of spermidine/spermine in the HCC tissue was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. The ratio in noncancerous tissue was significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than in the control group.
Conclusions: Alcohol abuse affects polyamine metabolism, which influences the grade of malignancy of HCC. Hepatic tissue has greater potential for carcinogenesis in patients with chronic liver disease and alcohol abuse than in patients without them.