title: The inhibition of malignant cell growth by ketone bodies.
abstract: The effect of ketone bodies on the growth, in culture, of transformed lymphoblasts (Raji cells) was investigated. Cell growth was inhibited and this effect was reversible, non-toxic, and proportional to the concentration of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate up to 20mM. The total glucose utilisation and the total lactate production were reduced in proportion to the inhibition of cell proliferation. D-beta-hydroxybutyrate was not metabolised by the cells. Other glycolytic inhibitors and chemical analogues of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate either did not inhibit or proved to be too toxic for cell growth. D-beta-hydroxybutyrate also inhibited the growth of rabbit kidney (RK13), HeLa, mouse melanoma (B16), fibroblast and trypsin-dispersed human thyroid and beef testis cells. Moreover, in vivo dietary-induced ketosis reduced the number of B16 melanoma deposits in the lungs of C57BL/6 mice by two-thirds. The significance of these results in the clinical management of cancer cachexia is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney; D007773:Lactates / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000556:secondary; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000178:diet therapy; D011817:Rabbits; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D007773:Lactates; D005947:Glucose