Hypoglycemia with glycerol salvage: A role in anti-neoplastic therapy? Journal Article


Authors: Wang, H. Y.; Hochwald, S.; Port, J.; Harrison, L. E.; Ng, B.; Burt, M.
Article Title: Hypoglycemia with glycerol salvage: A role in anti-neoplastic therapy?
Abstract: Most tumors are obligate glucose consumers and severe glucose depletion has anti-neoplastic effects. However, an alternate energy source is necessary to support the host. Since glycerol is utilized by all hypoglycemic sensitive normal tissues but not tumors, glycerol may be an ideal alternate energy source. The effects of glycerol on tumor growth, animal survival during systemic hypoglycemia induced by 3-mercaptopicolinic acid (3-MP, a gluconeogenesis inhibitor), and effects of 3-MP on gluconeogenesis from glycerol were studied. Experiment 1 - glycerol effect on tumor cell growth; and glycerokinase activity assay. Methylcholanthrene-induces (MCA) sarcoma cells were plated in either glucose free, glucose or glycerol containing medium. Cell counts and viabilities were recorded daily. Cells in glucose group had normal growth pattern and cell viability, while cell counts and viabilities in control and glycerol groups decreased markedly. F344 rats were injected with MCA-sarcoma cells in the flank. Glycerokinase activities in tumor and host liver were assayed on day 20. Activities were 12.3 + 2.8, 148.2 + 17.5 assayed on day 20. Activities were 12.3 ± 2.8, 148.2 ± 17.5 μmol/g protein/min in tumor and liver, respectively. Experiment 2 - glycerol effect on animal survival during hypoglycemia induced by 3-MP. Following a 48 hour fast, 12 Fischer 344 rats were injected (ip) with 3-MP (200 mg/kg) and randomized to saline or glycerol perfusion (100 mg/kg/hr) groups. Four of 6 rats in the saline group died of hypoglycemia. All rats in the glycerol group survived, but blood glucose levels were increased as compared to the saline group. Experiment 3 - 3-MP effect on gluconeogenesis from glycerol as compared to lactated. 5 x 10 6 hepatocytes were incubated in glucose-free HBSS containing glycerol (20mM) or lactate (20mM) in the presence (0.5mM) or absence of 3-MP. Glucose production was assayed every 30 minutes for 2 hrs. Glucose production from glycerol was not significantly inhibited in the presence of 3-MP as compared to lactated. Conclusion: Glycerol does not support MCA-sarcoma growth and promotes animal survival during severe systemic hypoglycemia induced by 3-MP. However, glycerol also led to increased gluconeogenesis in this model. The use of hypoglycemic agents with glycerol protection of host tissues warrants further study.
Keywords: survival; cancer survival; controlled study; cancer growth; nonhuman; animal cell; animal; cell viability; cell growth; culture medium; animal experiment; animal model; antineoplastic activity; tumor cells, cultured; enzyme activity; cancer therapy; liver; cell culture; cancer cell; rat; glucose blood level; hypoglycemia; cell count; glucose; rats; liver cell; rats, inbred f344; lactic acid; sarcoma cell; glycerol; sarcoma, experimental; gluconeogenesis; energy resource; phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (gtp); 3 methylcholanthrene; male; priority journal; article; 3-mercaptopicolinic acid; anti-neoplasia; 3 mercaptopicolinic acid; glycerol kinase; picolinic acids
Journal Title: Anticancer Research
Volume: 15
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0250-7005
Publisher: International Institute of Anticancer Research  
Date Published: 1995-07-01
Start Page: 1343
End Page: 1348
Language: English
PUBMED: 7654019
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 28 August 2018 -- Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Michael E. Burt
    187 Burt
  2. Bruce Ng
    23 Ng
  3. Jeffrey L. Port
    14 Port