Effect of methionine replacement by homocystine in cultures containing both malignant rat breast carcinosarcoma (Walker-256) cells and normal adult rat liver fibroblasts

In Vitro. 1975 Jan-Feb;11(1):14-9. doi: 10.1007/BF02615317.

Abstract

When malignant W-256 rat breast carcinosarcoma cells are mixed with an equal number of normal adult rat liver fibroblasts and allowed to grow in a medium containing sufficient L-methionine and an excess of vitamin B12 and of folic acid, the malignant cells outgrow the normal cells, and within 2 weeks the tissue culture flasks contain only neoplastic cells. However, when ample DL-homocystine or homocysteine replaces methionine in the medium containing the same amount of vitamin B12 and folic acid, and seeded with the same type and number of malignant and normal cells, the malignant cells die and the normal cells thrive. Substantiating this conclusion are the results of injections into rats of comparable numbers of cells from each group after 3 weeks of growth in tissue culture. Fatal malignancies are produced by the homocystein-cultivated cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma 256, Walker / pathology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Culture Media*
  • Culture Techniques
  • Fibroblasts
  • Folic Acid / metabolism
  • Homocystine / metabolism*
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Methionine / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Seeding
  • Rats
  • Vitamin B 12 / metabolism

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Homocystine
  • Folic Acid
  • Methionine
  • Vitamin B 12