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Reutilization of Amino Acid Carbons in Relation to Albumin Turnover in Nongrowing Mice with Sarcoma¹

Surgical Metabolic Research Laboratory, Department of Surgery, [K. L., I. K., L. E., T. S.], and Department of Oto-Laryngology [S. E.], Sahlgrenska Sjukhuset, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden

Reutilization of amino acid carbons was evaluated in relation to increased turnover of albumin in tumor-bearing mice.

A methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma (MCG 101) was used in nongrowing mice (C57BL/6J).

Sarcoma-bearing mice developed hypoalbuminemia, but pair-fed controls did not. The hypoalbuminemia was caused by increased albumin degradation rate, measured by injection of Na₂¹⁴CO₃, and by exponentially increased deposition of albumin into the tumor compartment. The fractional synthesis rate of albumin was doubled in tumor-bearing mice compared with controls. The translational capacity of albumin synthesis evaluated in vitro was maintained in tumor host livers. The recycling of [¹⁴C]leucine carbons was almost extinguished in plasma albumin of sarcoma-bearing mice, while that of control mice contributed to 30 to 40% of the total leucine carbon flux in turned over albumin. The recycling of arginine carbons was also different when measured after simultaneous injection of [guanido-¹⁴C]arginine and [2,3-³H]arginine. The hepatic pool of free leucine was increased by 22% in tumor-bearing mice.

It is concluded that increased albumin degradation in cancer may be a disordered event and is earlier and of initially greater quantitative importance than is altered synthesis of albumin for the development of hypoalbuminemia in experimental cancer.

¹ This work was supported by grants from the Swedish Cancer Society (Project 93), the Swedish Medical Research Council (Project 536), the Assar Gabrielsson Foundation, and the Serena Ehrenström Foundation.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed: Department of Surgery I, Sahlgrenska Sjukhuset, 413 45 Göteborg, Sweden.

Received 12/ 8/80. Accepted 2/10/82.

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