Acivicin reduces tumor growth during total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

Glutamine appears to be an important substrate for tumor growth. Since tumor growth rate may be stimulated by total parenteral nutrition (TPN), we investigated the effect of the glutamine antimetabolite, acivicin, on methylcholanthrene sarcoma growth in rats maintained on TPN or on rat chow. Acivicin treatment significantly reduced tumor growth by 67% in rats receiving TPN and by 71% in rats maintained on chow. Carcass weights were significantly increased by TPN in both acivicin-treated and saline solution-treated tumor-bearing rats. Tumor-carcass ratios were significantly decreased in both groups of acivicin-treated tumor-bearing rats. Acivicin treatment or a similar approach may therefore be useful for stabilizing tumor growth in patients receiving TPN.