Energy Status Parameters, Hypoxia Fraction and Radiocurability Across Tumor Types

Abstract

Under full nutrient in vitro conditions, the cellular adenylate energy charge of six different rodent and human tumor cell types was identical, i.e., 0.94 ± 0.01, suggesting the potential utility of this parameter as a cell (and tissue) independent marker of nutrient deprivation and hypoxia, across tumor types. The adenylate energy charge values of tumors, arising from these cells, was reduced and variable ranging from 0.72 to 0.91 for the various tumor types. However, neither the tumor adenylate energy charge, NTP/Pi, nor PCr/Pi ratios correlated with the radiobiologic hypoxic cell fractions across tumor types. The reduced adenylate energy charge in vivo suggests varying degrees of nutrient deprivation in the different tumor types, however, factors other than or in addition to hypoxia likely contribute to tumor energy status.