Characterization of murine hepatoma BW7756. I. Selected biochemical properties of liver and hepatoma.

Selected biochemical properties, based on hepatocellular function, were assessed in the mouse hepatoma BW7756 and host and/or normal mouse liver. These biochemical properties included (a) alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) production, (b) lipid composition, (c) isozyme patterns and enzyme activities, and (d) cyclic AMP levels. The tumor evidenced an exponential growth phase and vigorous production of AFP in the first 3 weeks following transplant. The concentration of AFP in the sera of tumor-bearing mice increases roughly with the growth of the hepatoma. The percentage of total lipid in the hepatoma was greater than in either normal or host liver; however, the liver displayed more phospholipid than the tumor, while more triglyceride was demonstrable in the hepatoma. Of the 17 isozyme patterns analyzed, seven--acid phosphatase, malate dehydrogenase, aspartate amino-transferase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, esterase, lactate dehydrogenase, and xanthine dehydrogenase--were different in the liver and the tumor. The cyclic AMP levels decreased in the tumor and the host spleen from day 10 to day 21; however, slight increases were noted in the tumor and host spleen and liver at day 28. These studies suggested 2--3 weeks posttransplantation as the optimal time for investigational use of this hepatoma.