Cytotoxic effects of exogenous d‐galactosamine on experimental tumors

Abstract

In the present work the carcinostatic effect of exogenous D-galactosamine on Sarcoma-180 and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells was examined in vitro. D-galactosamine exhibited a powerful anti-tumor efect on these tumor lines, resulting in a rapid loss of viability and transplantability. The toxic effect of D-galactosamine was not altered by addition of glucose or pyruvate. The effects of galactosamine were evident histologically even before the cells became stainable by trypan blue.The biochemical basis for the cytotoxic effect of galactosamine, at a concentration used for viability, transplantability and tissue-culture study, was investigated. Galactosamine was taken up very rapidly by the tumor cells, reaching a steady state rate within 60 min. Fifty-three pmoles of galactosamine were accumulated by los cells. About