Modulation of cell cycle kinetics in human cancer with total parenteral nutrition

Prior DNA flow cytometric data from the laboratory of the Division of Surgical Oncology, Massey Cancer Center, demonstrated an increase in the hyperdiploid compartment of tumor cells taken from patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck after a course of total parenteral nutrition (TPN). To assess a putative increase in the percentage of tumor cells actively synthesizing DNA in this system, the authors administered bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) intravenously to ten patients before and after the administration of TPN. Cell suspensions prepared from biopsy specimens of normal oral mucosa and tumor tissue were analyzed with flow cytometric study. Before TPN administration, the mean percentage of tumor cells incorporating BrdU was 2.47 +/- 1.11%. After TPN administration, the percentage of S-phase cells increased significantly (P less than 0.05) to a mean of 4.52 +/- 2.67%. Before TPN was given, normal mucosa demonstrated a mean of 7.97 +/- 2.69% of cells incorporating BrdU. After TPN was given, a mean of 8.47 +/- 2.51% was seen (not significant [NS]). A potential strategy for the use of TPN to enhance tumor cell susceptibility to S-phase-specific chemotherapy is strongly suggested by these data.