This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vitols, S. Articles by Åberg, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vitols, S. Articles by Åberg, B.

Elevated Uptake of Low Density Lipoproteins by Human Lung Cancer Tissue in Vivo¹

Departments of Clinical Pharmacology [S. V., C. P.], Tumor Pathology [O. L.], and Thoracic Surgery [P. H., B. Å.], Karolinska Hospital, S-104 01 Stockholm, Sweden

In order to explore new treatment modalities for cancer, it is important to identify qualitative or quantitative differences in metabolic processes between normal and malignant cells. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that acute myelogenous leukemia cells have elevated receptor-mediated uptake of low density lipoproteins (LDL), compared to normal WBC. High receptor-mediated uptake of LDL by certain cancer cells in tissue culture and experimental tumors in animals in vivo has also been demonstrated. The present study was undertaken to compare the in vivo assimilation of LDL by human lung cancer tissue with that by surrounding lung tissue. Ten patients with newly diagnosed lung tumors, scheduled for surgery, received an i.v. injection of [¹⁴C]sucrose-labeled LDL. Following cellular uptake and degradation of the LDL particle, the radiolabeled sucrose moiety remains trapped in the lysosomal compartment, making this labeling technique useful for in vivo studies of tissue uptake of LDL. Radioactivity was determined in plasma and in tissue biopsies obtained at surgery 1–3 days after injection. The uptake of radioactivity in lung cancer tissue was elevated (1.5–3.0-fold), compared to surrounding tissue, in 7 of 9 patients with primary lung cancer. The most rapid preoperative disappearance of radioactivity from plasma was found in 2 patients with large tumors exhibiting high LDL uptake, relative to normal lung tissue. These findings support the hypothesis that the selectivity of cytotoxic agents can be enhanced also in nonhematological malignancies by administering the drugs incorporated in LDL particles.

¹ Supported by grants from the Swedish Cancer Society, the Cancer Society in Stockholm, Cortecs Ltd., and the Karolinska Institute.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 5/11/92. Accepted 9/ 4/92.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Sun, I. M. Berquin, and I. J. Edwards Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Regulate Syndecan-1 Expression in Human Breast Cancer Cells Cancer Res., May 15, 2005; 65(10): 4442 - 4447. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Bonneau, C. Vever-Bizet, P. Morliere, J.-C. Maziere, and D. Brault Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies of the Interactions of a Porphyrin with Low-Density Lipoproteins Biophys. J., December 1, 2002; 83(6): 3470 - 3481. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Maletínská, E. A. Blakely, K. A. Bjornstad, D. F. Deen, L. J. Knoff, and T. M. Forte Human Glioblastoma Cell Lines: Levels of Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor and Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein Cancer Res., April 1, 2000; 60(8): 2300 - 2303. [Abstract] [Full Text]