[Synthesis of arachidonic acid cascade eicosanoids in tumors of various histogenesis in mice]

The investigation was undertaken to characterize the profile of arachidonic acid metabolites in different spontaneous and transplantable tumors in mice. The five metabolites via the cyclooxygenase pathway (PGE2, PGF2 alpha, PGD2, TxB2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha), as well as the three lipoxygenase products (5-HETE, 12-HETE, and 15-HETE) were monitored by thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography after "ex vivo" metabolism of exogenous [1-C14]-arachidonic acid by homogenates of tumor tissues. It was shown that all tumors had a unique profile of eicosanoids. The most cyclooxygenase activity along with the significant synthesis of PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was noted in lung tumors. The antitumor effect of indomethacin was directly related to the ability of tumors to produce PGE2. On the other hand, there were varying lipoxygenase activities in tumors. In some cases, the extremely high levels of 15- and 12-HETE synthesis in neoplastic tissue could indicate that there was a basic possibility of using lipoxygenase inhibitors for suppressing malignant tumors.