Single amino acid (arginine) deprivation: rapid and selective death of cultured transformed and malignant cells
2000
Arginine Deprivation Kills Cancer Cells
Sample size: 26
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Scott L, Lamb J, Smith S, Wheatley D N
Primary Institution: Department of Cell Pathology, University of Aberdeen
Hypothesis
Does arginine deprivation selectively kill transformed and malignant cells while allowing normal cells to survive?
Conclusion
Arginine deprivation leads to rapid death of most cancer cells while normal cells can survive and recover.
Supporting Evidence
- Less than 10% of transformed or malignant cells survived for more than 5 days without arginine.
- Leukaemic cells died more rapidly than other cell types.
- Normal cells entered a quiescent state and survived longer in arginine deprivation.
- Two tumor lines, A549 and MCF7, showed a 'cell cycle freeze' but eventually died upon re-exposure to arginine deprivation.
Takeaway
When cancer cells don't get arginine, they die quickly, but normal cells can live longer and bounce back when arginine is given back.
Methodology
The effects of arginine deprivation were examined in 26 cell lines using bivariate flow cytometry.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on in vitro conditions, which may not fully represent in vivo responses.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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