Effect of DL-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine on the growth of EMT6 and RIF mouse tumors.

The response of murine EMT6 and RIF tumors to DL-buthionine-S, R-sulfoximine (BSO), a glutathione (GSH) depletor, given either as a single dose, continuous oral administration, or in multiple doses, was determined with the use of a tumor-growth-delay assay. BSO consistently caused significant tumor growth delay in EMT6 tumors, which reached 5-7 days (two doubling times) after a single BSO dose (40 mumol/kg or 4 mmol/kg), 3 days (one doubling time) with continuous oral administration (20 mM), and 9 days (three doubling times) with daily BSO administrations (4 mmol/kg) starting at the time of tumor inoculation. Growth inhibition persisted after discontinuation of BSO treatment. Some complete tumor regressions were observed. Only slight tumor growth delay (one doubling time) was observed in RIF tumors at all treatment modes. No direct correlation was observed between tumor GSH content and the effects on tumor growth. In vitro BSO pretreatment (2 mM, 24 hr) of EMT6 tumor cells prior to tumor inoculation, which reduced cellular GSH levels to 34% of controls, did not influence subsequent tumor growth. Pretreatment of mice with BSO (4 mmol/kg, 1 daily sc injection for 7 days) prior to tumor inoculation led to a reduction of tumor takes by 25% when compared to 100% tumor takes in untreated mice. These data imply a BSO-induced change in the host response to tumor development.