Effects of Walker 256 carcinoma on metabolic alterations during the evolution of pregnancy
Cintra-Gomes, M.C.; Cury, L.; Parreira, M.R.; Elias, C.F.; Areas, M.A.
Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 23(9): 909-913
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0100-879X PMID: 2101333 Document Number: 356458
The control of pregnant cancer patients is difficult because it involves both mother and fetus, and the metabolic alternations in the cancer host induce a massive mobilization of nutrients diverted to the neoplastic cells. The purpose of the present study was to determine the evolution of the Walker 256 carcinoma in pregnant rats and its consequences on fetal development. The results showed that the tumors displayed a very rapid rate of growth and induced a reduction in fetal weights in the pregnant tumor-bearing rats. The tumor-bearing and pregnant tumor-bearing groups showed a decrease in blood glucose and total serum protein, suggesting an increase in energy utilization of these substrates andsynthetic activity by the tumoral cells. An imbalance between protein synthesis and catabolism may occur in the tumor-bearing rats which may be related to the degree of nutritional depletion.