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Amino acid restriction modulates tumor growth, although effects on metastasis are poorly documented. We demonstrate that low levels of tyrosine (Tyr) and phenylalanine (Phe) suppress metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma and that these effects are specific to these two amino acids. Weight loss and sustained low body weight in mice fed low Tyr and Phe diet do not contribute to the antimetastatic effects. Furthermore, methionine (Met) restriction, which decreased survival of mice inoculated i.p. with B16 melanoma, only slightly inhibited spontaneous metastasis compared to the dramatic inhibition during Tyr and Phe restriction. Tyr and Phe restriction inhibited spontaneous metastasis by impairing the ability of tumor cells to establish metastatic foci and not via differential tumor cell removal from the blood. Spontaneous metastasis is blocked by Tyr and Phe intervention even in mice with established lymph node tumors. Tumors isolated from mice fed low Tyr and Phe diet reinoculated into mice fed normal diet exhibited lower experimental metastatic potential, reflected by decreased formation of lung tumor colonies and increased survival of inoculated mice. This decrease in metastatic potential is not associated with tumor chemosensitivity. These findings indicate that Tyr and Phe restriction could become an important adjuvant to effective melanoma treatment.

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Sodium ascorbate supplementation in drinking water inhibited subcutaneous tumor growth, enhanced levodopa methylester (LDME) chemotherapy, and increased survival of B16 melanoma-bearing mice. Antitumor activity was greatest in mice fed diets low in tyrosine and phenylalanine (restricted diet). Ascorbate partially protected against LDME-induced decrease in food intake. Primary tumor masses were smaller, more well defined, and less invasive in ascorbate-supplemented mice, and secondary tumor masses appeared encapsulated. Dehydroascorbate increased tumor growth and decreased survival. Ascorbate supplementation did not alter establishment of experimental B16-BL6 melanoma metastases but inhibited tumor outgrowth when combined with LDME chemotherapy and the restricted diet. Spontaneous metastasis was inhibited by ascorbate in mice fed the restricted diet. Ascorbate supplementation doubled plasma concentration in melanoma-bearing mice independent of diet and increased tumor concentration 3.7-fold (basal diet) and 5.6-fold (restricted diet) relative to unsupplemented mice. Tumor peroxidation also increased during ascorbate supplementation and LDME treatment.