Increased Plasma Concentration of 4-Pyridone-3-carboxamide-1-ß-d-ribonucleoside (4PYR) in Lung Cancer. Preliminary Studies

4-pyridone-3-carboxamide-1-beta-D-ribonucleoside (4PYR) is a new nicotinamide derivative, which is potentially toxic to the endothelium. Dysfunction of the endothelium promotes cancer cell proliferation, invasiveness, and inflammatory signaling. The aim of this study was to analyze 4PYR concentration in the plasma of lung cancer patients and its relationship to other known biochemical parameters associated with the endothelium function. The concentration of 4PYR, nicotinamide, 1-methylnicotinamide (MNA), amino acids, and their derivatives were measured in samples obtained from patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma (n = 48) and control group (n = 100). The concentration of 4PYR and 4PYR/MNA ratio were significantly higher in lung cancer patients as compared to controls (0.099 +/- 0.009 vs. 0.066 +/- 0.006 mu mol/L and 1.10 +/- 0.08 vs. 1.97 +/- 0.15, respectively). The plasma arginine/asymmetric dimethylarginine (Arg/ADMA) ratio was considerably lower in lung cancer patients (253 +/- 17 vs. 369 +/- 19) as well as plasma MNA (0.057 +/- 0.004 vs. 0.069 +/- 0.003 mu mol/L). There was no difference in the plasma concentrations of nicotinamide and nicotinamide riboside in both groups (0.116 +/- 0.019 vs. 0.131 +/- 0.014 and 0.102 +/- 0.006 vs. 0.113 +/- 0.011, respectively). In this study, a higher 4PYR concentration was observed for the first time in patients with squamous cell carcinoma. This change may be related to the endothelial dysfunction that promote cancer progression since 4PYR and its derivatives are known to disrupt glycolytic pathway.