Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity as a Biochemical Marker in Individuals Predisposed to Lung Cancer

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the first enzyme in the pathway of mammalian polyamine biosynthesis. "Tumor promoters" appear to induce ODC. In addition, increased ODC activity has been observed in normal appearing colonic mucosa of patients with familial polyposis, an autosomal dominant disorder associated with a high incidence of colon cancer. Ornithine decarboxylase activity was measured in br…