Formation of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine diphosphate choline in neoplastic and normal cells.

1-beta-D-Arabinofuranosylcytosine diphosphate choline was formed from 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) during incubation in vitro of peripheral myeloblasts from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and cultured cells (nonleukemic human lymphocytes, mouse lymphoma L5178Y, and HeLa); as well, 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine diphosphate choline was formed in vivo in mouse leukemia L1210 cells and mouse liver. 3-Deazauridine enhanced the anabolism of ara-C in nonleukemic lymphocytes in vitro and leukemia L1210 cells in vivo but did not influence ara-C anabolism in the other cell types. In acute myelogenous leukemia myeloblasts incubated in vitro with ara-C, concentrations of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-triphosphate were maximal after 8 hr of incubation and formation of the latter preceded that of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine diphosphate choline.