RECYCLING OF RESTING CELLS IN THE JB-1 ASCITES TUMOUR AFTER TREATMENT WITH 1-β-D-ARABINOFURANOSYLCYTOSINE (Ara-C) |
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Authors: | P DOMBERNOWSKY P BlCHEL |
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Institution: | The Finsen Institute, Department of Internal Medicine, Copenhagen, and Institute of Cancer Research, Radiumstationen, Århus, Denmark |
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Abstract: | Resting cells in tumours present a major problem in cancer chemotherapy. In the plateau phase of growth of the murine JB-1 ascites tumour (i.e. 10 days after 2–5 × 106 cells i.p.) large fractions of non-cycling cells with G1 and G2 DNA content (Q1 and Q2 cells) are present, and the fate of these resting cells was investigated after treatment with l-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C). The experimental work consisted of growth curves, percentage of labelled mitoses curves after continuous labelling with 3H-TdR, and cytophotometric determination of single-cell DNA content in unlabelled tumour cells. Treatment with an i.p. single injection of Ara-C 200 mg/kg in the plateau JB-1 tumour resulted in a significant reduction in the number of tumour cells 1 and 2 days later as compared with untreated controls, while no difference in the number of tumour cells was observed after 3 days. In tumours prelabelled with 3H-TdR 24 hr before Ara-C treatment, a significant decrease in the percentage of labelled mitoses was observed 6–8 hr later followed by a return to the initial value after 12 hr, and a new pronounced fall from 20 hr after Ara-C. The second fall in the percentage of labelled mitoses disappeared when the labelling with 3H-TdR was continued also after Ara-C treatment. Cytophotometry of unlabelled tumour cells prelabelled for 24 hr with 3H-TdR before Ara-C treatment showed 20 hr after Ara-C a pronounced decrease in the fraction of Qt cells paralleled by an increase in the fraction of unlabelled cells with S DNA content. These results indicate recycling of resting cells first with G2 and later with Gx DNA content, which contribute to the regrowth of the tumours. |
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