[Studies on the thymidine-triphosphate synthesis in malignant tumors. II. Effect of hyperthermia, Vitamin K and Cytotoxic agents (author's transl)]

Abstract

Measurements of the deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) contents, the [14C] thymidine and deoxyuridine incorporation and the "key enzymes" of the thymidine triphosphate (dTTP) synthesis, thymidine kinase and ribonucleotide reductase, in diploid Ehrlich-ascites carcinoma, under the application of hyperthermia, vitamin K and cytocidal agents show: The effect of hyperthermia and menadion (the basic substance of the K vitamins) on the above parameters of dNTP synthesis can explain the labile effects of hyperthemia and vitamin K therapy on cancer growth. Alterations of the dNTP concentrations and demonstrable or absent inhibition of the ribonucleotide reduction with application of fluoruracil, amethopterine, cytosine arabinoside, hydroxyurea, trisethylen iminobenzochinone and daunomycin confirm and supplement our knowledge of the cytostatic action mechanism of these substances. They show moreover by the example of fluoruracil and amethopterine medication that the dTTP concentration estimation after in-vitro incubation of tumour cells with the addition of FU or methotrexat is a better measurement of the therapeutic in-vivo responsiveness of malignant tumours than the previously performed test methods.