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Extracellular pH and Neoplastic Transformations¹

Division of Medical Education and Research, The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15224

Cellulose bags containing acid or basic ion-exchange papers that yield various initial pH values when immersed in neutral 0.15 M NaCl were imbedded s.c. in several groups of rats. Also, bags containing neutral filter paper, empty cellulose bags, and single cellulose films were implanted in other groups of rats. All groups evolved tumors in diverse proportions and after latent periods of different length at the site of the implants. The bags containing basic papers that were neutralized in vitro to pH values near neutrality before implantation produced the highest incidence of tumors and exhibited the shortest latent periods of tumor formation. The role of protracted low pH values in the environment of the cell and the possible existence of an optimum pH favorable for the neoplastic transformation are discussed.

¹ This investigation was aided by Research Grant CA-06345 from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, USPHS.

Received 1/ 5/73. Accepted 1/18/74.