Control of glucose metabolism in transplantable kindney tumours: Low gluconeogenesis by tumours MK-1 and MK-2

Abstract

1. 1. We are interested to know whether transplantable kidney tumours, like transplantable liver tumours, show a defective dietary control of metabolism. Such a defect has been suggested as being in some way fundamental to the neoplastic process. 2. 2. We have now examined the effects of fasting on the rate of glucose synthesis from fructose, glycerol and pyruvate by slices of kidney cortex and the transplantable kidney tumours MK-1 and MK-2, from Buffalo-strain rats. 3. 3. Our results show that, (a) contrary to the case with kidney cortex slices from the host rat, slices from the two kidney tumours exhibit litte or no synthesis of glucose from fructose, glycerol or pyruvate; (b) this meagre rate of gluconeogenesis is not influenced by fasting; (c) the rate of oxidation in vitro of glucose is higher and of pyruvate is lower by the tumours than by the host liver. 4. 4. Determination of the presence or absence of effective dietary controls over kidney-tumour metabolism probably will have to await the development of tumours with higher rates of gluconeogenesis.