Response of tumor and host to hyperalimentation and antiglutamine treatments

In two experiments, treatment of tumor-bearing (TB) rats with the glutamine antimetabolite, acivicin, reduced tumor growth during 14 days of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) that supplied 120% and 130% of the nutritional intake of non-TB control rats. The acivicin treatment or combination of acivicin with TPN produced increased carcass weights and decreased tumor/carcass ratios. Significant muscle saving was observed in TB rats receiving TPN or TPN and acivicin as compared to acivicin-treated TB rats maintained on rat chow. Tumor growth was not stimulated by TPN at 130% of ad libitum. intake with a calorie/nitrogen ratio of 102:1. However, when the calorie/nitrogen ratio was increased to 143:1, tumor growth was increased by TPN at 120% of ad libitum. intake. These results suggest that acivicin may prove useful in the stabilization of tumors in situations where tumor growth may be stimulated, such as during TPN.