Population kinetics of an Ehrlich ascites tumor following treatment with methylglyoxal-bis(guanylhydrazone), a polyamine synthesis inhibitor.

Population kinetics of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells grown in vivo were studied following treatment with methylglyoxal-bis(guanylhydrazone) (MeGAG; NSC-32946), a potent chemotherapeutic agent and a specific polyamine synthesis inhibitor. MeGAG-treatment resulted in a continuous accumulation of cells in the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle, and, as a consequence, the rate of cell proliferation decreased. This finding emphasizes the importance of the polyamines for progression through the cell cycle.