Metabolism of 5-fluorouracil in sensitive and resistant tumor cells.

Thymidine kinase, dTMP kinase, and DNA polymerase activities were determined in cell lines of AH hepatoma, L1210 leukemia, and Yoshida sarcoma that were sensitive and resistant to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). It was found that the levels of these enzymes in tumor cells were not consistently related to the property of sensitivity to 5-FU. A marked difference was observed between sensitive and resistant cell lines of L1210 leukemia and Yoshida sarcoma in the uptake of labeled 5-FU into the acid-soluble, nucleotide, and RNA fractions, the rate of incorporation of 5-FU into these fractions being 3 to 5 times greater in sensitive tumor cells than in resistant tumor cells. The radioactivities in the acid-soluble fractions of AH44 (sensitive) and AH109A (resistant) were similar after incubation of these cells with labeled 5-FU in vitro. However, a smaller volume of ascites and lower cell number were observed in AH44 (sensitive)-bearing rats than in AH109A (resistant)-bearing rats. These in vivo results indicate that the 5-FU injected intraperitoneally was diluted by ascites more in AH109A (resistant)-bearing rats than in AH44 (sensitive)-bearing rats.