GLUCOSE-METABOLISM IN ADRIAMYCIN-SENSITIVE AND ADRIAMYCIN-RESISTANT LOVO HUMAN COLON-CARCINOMA CELLS

The utilization of carbon from C-14-labeled glucose by adriamycin (ADM )-sensitive and -resistant LoVo human colon carcinoma cells has been i nvestigated. The following summarizes the results: 1. Aerobic glycolys is is the main energy-yielding process in both cell lines, whereas onl y a small proportion of glucose carbon atoms are incorporated into CO2 , lipids, nucleic acids, and supporting structures. 2. Basic alteratio ns in glucose metabolism are associated with drug resistance in tumor cells. In fact, ADM-resistant LoVo cells show a significant increase i n the oxidative pathway of glucose metabolism as well as in acetyl-CoA production. 3. In adriamycin-resistant LoVo cells, the amount of gluc ose carbon atoms metabolized through the pentose phosphate pathway is significantly higher than in adriamycin-sensitive cells. These finding s confirm a modified glucose metabolism in cells with a resistant phen otype.