Radiology, Vol 137, 203-211, Copyright © 1980 by Radiological Society of North America
Effects of 5-thio-D-glucose on cellular adenosine triphosphate levels and deoxyribonucleic acid rejoining hy hypoxic and aerobic Chinese hamster cells
WA Nagle, AJ Moss Jr, HG Roberts Jr and ML Baker
Intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were measured in both
hypoxic and aerobic cultures of V79 Chinese hamster cells treated with
5-thio-D-glucose (5-SH-D-Glc). This glucose analog, a known inhibitor of
D-glucose transport and metabolism, reduced ATP in cell cultures allowed to
become hypoxic by cell metabolism, but not in aerobic cultures treated
similarly. Cells depleted of ATP were unable to rejoin x-ray-induced
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) strand breaks as measured by the alkaline
surcrose gradient sedimentation technique. Results show that 5-SH-D-Glc
leads to reduced energy metabolism in cells dependent on glycolysis for ATP
production. The inference for radiation therapy is that inhibition glucose
metabolism selectively depletes energy reserves in hypoxic cells, rendering
these cells more radiosensitive and leading to a more effective tumor
treatment.
