Capillary gas chromatographic determination of putrescine and cadaverine in serum of cancer patients using trifluoroacetylacetone as derivatizing reagent

Trifluoroacetylacetone (FAA) derivatives of 1,4-diaminobutane (putrescine) (Pu) and 1,5-diaminopentane (cadaverine) (CA) were prepared and characterized by elemental microanalysis, IR, and mass spectrometry. Diamine derivatives were eluted from capillary gas chromatographic (CGC) column BP1 (12 mX0.22 mm LD.) or BP5 (50 mX0.22 min) with layer thickness 0.25 mu m, using nitrogen as a carrier gas and flame ionization detection (FID). A solvent extraction procedure was developed for the extraction of Pu and CA from aqueous solution with a linear calibration range 0-20 mu g/0.2 ml of extract with a detection limit of 0.5-0.6 ng/injection, The method was applied for the determination of Pu and CA in the serum of five cancer patients before and after radiotherapy. The serum of two healthy persons was also analyzed for Pu and CA contents. Pu and CA concentrations were found within the range 1.16-3.96 mu g/ml and 0.88-1.46 mu g/ml in cancer patients as compared to 0.11-0.16 mu g/ml and 0.06-0.075 mu g/ml respectively in healthy persons with a coefficient of variation (CV) within 0.62-5.47%. Pu and CA concentrations decreased on radiotherapy in cancer patients, but were much higher than in healthy persons. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.