Action of carbamoylating agents on the uptake of metabolites in hepatomas and liver

Metabolic effects of cyanate on mice at sea level and in chronic hypobaric hypoxia

In order to evaluate the toxic effects of Sodium Cyanate (NaOCN), it was orally administered to growing mice at sea level (SL-CN) and to mice chronically exposed to intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IHH-CN). The effects on body weight, in-vivo O2 consumption (VO2) and the respiratory function of liver mitochondria were evaluated. At sea level, the animals on cyanate lost weight in contrast with the controls that gained weight. When exposed to IHH, the controls lost weight and the animals on cyanate regained weight. After 2 months observation the weights of the IHH-CN and IHH-C were similar. The VO2 after one month of treatment was similar in the SL-C and in the SL-CN but it was lower in the IHH-CN when compared with IHH-C. The substrate-stimulated respiration of isolated liver mitochondria (ST4) was not affected by NaOCN, but the ADP-stimulated respiration (ST3) was reduced. The ratio ST3/ST4 (RCR) was also lower. These changes were present in both SL and in IHH and were much larger after three months of treatment. The toxic effects of chronic administration of NaOCN are discussed.

Combined effect of pH and sodium cyanate on the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and metabolism by BCNU and hyperthermia

In previous studies, we have found that combined treatment with BCNU and sodium cyanate could have a greater effect on the survival of mice bearing B16 melanoma than treatment with either agent alone. With rat hepatoma and human colon cancer cells in culture, we have obtained evidence that the inhibition of cell proliferation by sodium cyanate is greater at pH 6.6 than at pH 7.4. In the present work, the effects of combination treatments on the proliferation of cancer cells were studied with cyanate, pH, BCNU, and hyperthermia. With HT29 human colon cancer cells, the inhibitory effect of BCNU (50-100 micrograms/ml) was greater when the cells were treated at pH 6.6 than at pH 7.4. The influence of pH appeared to be absent or minimal at lower or higher concentrations of BCNU. We confirmed our previous observation that the inhibition of proliferation of LS174T human colon cancer cells is greater at pH 6.6 than at pH 7.4, and we observed an inhibitory effect of BCNU (50 or 200 micrograms/ml). However, no more than additive effects were seen with combination treatment. An inhibitory effect of hyperthermia was seen for the incorporation of [3H]-leucine into protein of rat hepatoma cells (HTC) and for that of [3H]-thymidine into DNA of human colon cancer (HT29) cells. In neither case was the effect of hyperthermia significantly enhanced by treatment with sodium cyanate beyond that seen with one of the treatments alone. The data confirmed that the inhibitory effect of sodium cyanate on cell proliferation can be enhanced by a low pH but did not provide evidence for synergistic effects in combination with BCNU or hyperthermia.

pH-related effects of sodium cyanate on macromolecular synthesis and tumor cell division

In past work, the selective effects of sodium cyanate on macromolecular synthesis in tumors have not been seen with cells in culture. We have explored the possibility that differences in the response of tumor cells to cyanate in vivo and in vitro may be related to the pH in the environment to which cells are exposed. When rat hepatoma (HTC) cells were incubated with sodium cyanate (0.25 mg/ml), there was a greater inhibition of precursor incorporation into RNA and DNA with a decrease in pH from 7.4 to 6.6. At pH 7.4 there was no significant effect of sodium cyanate on the incorporation of [3H]leucine into protein of rat hepatocytes and HTC cells, but at pH 6.6 there were decreases of 50% or greater. The time of response and the reversibility of the inhibitory effects of sodium cyanate were not those anticipated from carbamoylation of amino groups but were compatible with modification of sulfhydryl groups. The uptake of [14C]sodium cyanate in HTC cells and human colon cancer (HT29) cells was greater at pH 6.6 than at 7.4. Over a period of 4 days there was a slower rate of cell division by HTC and HT29 at pH 6.6 than at pH 7.4. The addition of sodium cyanate caused a further reduction in the rate of proliferation, and at a concentration of 0.25 mg sodium cyanate/ml there were decreases in cell numbers. The data suggested that a lower interstitial pH in tumors than normal tissues would result in greater sensitivity to inhibitory effects of sodium cyanate on macromolecular synthesis.