Glucose consumption by transplanted tumors in vivo.

The relationship between availability and utilization of glucose and production of láclatewas studied in vivoin Walker carcinoma 256, Hepatoma 5123, and Fibrosarcoma 4956 transplanted in rats. The tumors utilized 0.96,0.55, and 0.45 gm of glucose/hr/100 gm wet tumor weight, respectively, corresponding to 28%, 23%, and 32% of the amount supplied. About 35% of the glucose consumed was eliminated as Jáctateregardless of the tumor type. In normoglycemia, the amount of glucose consumed and glycolyzed was directly related to the glucose available which de creased per unit weight as the tumor size increased. During hyperglycemia, produced either by dextrose injections or diabetes, the tumors increased glucose utilization. The increase was maximum during the first few hours; then a "saturation" level