In vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity of L-glutamic acid gamma-monohydroxamate against L1210 leukemia and B16 melanoma.

A glutamine analogue, L-glutamic acid gamma-monohydroxamate (GAH) demonstrated complete cytotoxicity against L1210 cells in culture and marked anti-tumoral activity in vivo against L1210 leukemia and B16 melanoma. In vitro, GAH caused concentration-dependent inhibition of L1210 cell growth, with complete cell death being reached at 72 hr and at a 500 microM concentration. A minimal incubation time of 38 hr with 500 microM GAH was necessary to obtain complete cell death at 72 hr. During incubation, GAH is metabolized to hydroxylamine. Hydroxylamine acts as the active form of GAH, since the concentration-dependent inhibition of cell growth caused by hydroxylamine is the same as that observed with GAH. The cytotoxic effects of GAH and hydroxylamine on L1210 cells were not reversed or prevented by L-glutamine or L-glutamic acid and purine nucleosides but were prevented or reversed by pyruvate, 2-oxaloacetate and 2-oxoglutarate. In vivo, GAH considerably increased survival of mice bearing L1210 leukemia or a solid tumor, the B16 melanoma. Antitumor activity of GAH against L1210 leukemia and B16 melanoma was schedule-dependent. The administration of GAH 3 times daily was more effective than a twice daily treatment and the maximum ILS was observed using split-dose schedules on days 1 through 3 and 7 through 9 without noticeable toxicity. Under these conditions hydroxylamine is highly toxic, suggesting that in vivo GAH might act as an hydroxylamine releaser in the tumor cells and is not significantly metabolized in the body.