Reappraisal of L-canavanine as an anti-tumour agent.
L-canavanine, an analogue of L-arginine, is known to have a toxic effect on pathogens. In experiments performed on a specialised epithelial-like cell system which is conditionally transformable, L-canavanine appeared to exhibit (1) a reversible 'static' effect on exponentially growing cells at optimal concentration, and (2) a selectively toxic effect on proliferating cells. The capacity to recognise 'tumour cells' in a heterogeneous population of cells is of potential interest in cancer chemotherapy.
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002172:Canavanine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D000882:Haplorhini; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D013696:Temperature
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002172:Canavanine