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Differential uptake of tritiated digoxin in benign and malignant central nervous system neoplasms
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to measure uptake of tritiated digoxin by neoplastic tissues known to have differential contents of sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na + K + ATPase), the presumed receptor for digoxin. Tumor samples were removed at the time of craniotomy in seven patients with meningiomas (Group 1) and seven patients with more malignant central nervous system tumors (Group 2) (three astrocytomas, three glioblastomas, one meduloblastoma). Patients with meningiomas were found to have a significantly higher digoxin uptake (21.8 +/- 7.3 ng/gm tumor versus 5.7 +/- 5.2 ng/gm tumor; (p less than 0.01) and a significantly greater tissue/serum ratio (13.9 +/- 11.7 versus 3.26 +/- 3.7, p less than 0.0). This study provides the first demonstration of increased uptake of digoxin by noncardiac pathologic tissues. The results are most likely due to differences in the number of digoxin receptor sites.
Insights
Meningioma tumors showed significantly higher digoxin uptake compared to malignant brain tumors, suggesting differences in digoxin receptor sites. This study highlights digoxin
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
Background:
- Digoxin, a cardiac glycoside, interacts with sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+K+ATPase).
- Na+K+ATPase is implicated as the presumed receptor for digoxin.
- Neoplastic tissues exhibit differential Na+K+ATPase content.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify tritiated digoxin uptake in neoplastic tissues.
- To investigate the relationship between digoxin uptake and Na+K+ATPase levels in tumors.
- To explore digoxin's potential as a biomarker for non-cardiac tumors.
Main Methods:
- Tumor samples were obtained during craniotomy from patients with meningiomas and malignant central nervous system tumors.
- Tritiated digoxin uptake was measured in tumor tissues.
- Tissue-to-serum ratios of digoxin were calculated.
Main Results:
- Meningiomas demonstrated significantly higher digoxin uptake (21.8 ng/gm) compared to malignant tumors (5.7 ng/gm).
- Tissue/serum ratios were significantly greater in meningiomas (13.9) versus malignant tumors (3.26).
- These findings indicate differential digoxin receptor site concentrations in neoplastic tissues.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first evidence of increased digoxin uptake in non-cardiac pathologic tissues.
- Differences in Na+K+ATPase levels likely account for the observed variations in digoxin uptake.
- Digoxin uptake may serve as a potential indicator of receptor site density in specific tumor types.
