Inhibitory effects of D-glucosamine on the growth of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma and on protein, RNA, and DNA synthesis.

Fjelde et a!. (9) observed that D-glucosamine inhibited the growth of human epidermoid carcinoma cells in tissue culture, with concentration of 1 mg/mI causing death of the cells within 24 hr. The i.p. administration of divided doses of D-glucosamine or 2-deoxy-D-glucose inhibited the growth of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma in rats without significant toxicity to the host (1). Tumor growth resumed when treatment was stopped and slowed when treatment was reinstituted. Glucosamine in vivo exerted a cytotoxic effect on the Yoshida rat ascites sarcoma; in vitro, it inhibited anaerobic glycolysis of the tumor (16). Woodward et a!. (32) have shown that D-glucosamine inhibits the growth of yeast cells. Ely et aL (8) reported that D-glucosamine and 2-deoxy-D-glucose inhibited the growth of embryonic chicken heart in tissue culture without altering cell viability. Rubin et a!. (26) showed that D-glucosamine, but not N-acetylglucosamine, caused degeneration of Sarcoma 37