Mouse neoplasia and immunity: effects of radiation, hyperthermia, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, and Corynebacterium parvum

Radiation (XRT), hyperthermia, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG), and Corynebacterium parvum were given in various combinations to BALB/c mice injected with herpes virus type 2-transformed (H238) cells. Addition of heat significantly increased the antitumor effects of XRT, and the combination of XRT + 2DG + heat resulted in the highest incidence of complete tumor regression. Enhanced activity of phytohemagglutinin-responsive T lymphocytes and natural killer cells capable of killing YAC-1 tumor cells was noted in some of the treatment groups while tumor volume was similar for all of the groups. This enhancement was most likely to be achieved when heat was included as part of the treatment protocol.

The lack of effect of tunicamycin and 2-deoxy-D-glucose on corneal stromal herpes in rabbits

A rabbit model for herpes simplex virus (HSV) stromal keratitis, produced by intrastromal injection of live virus, was used to evaluate the effects of tunicamycin and 2-deoxy-D-glucose therapy. In vivo and in vitro evidence suggests that HSV strains that produce stromal disease secrete relatively large amounts of highly antigenic glycoproteins. Also, various studies have shown that tunicamycin and 2-deoxy-D-glucose inhibit the production of complete HSV-specific glycoproteins. Thus, these drugs might be capable of mitigating the clinical manifestations of HSV stromal keratitis by reducing the antigenic load. However, when topical therapy with tunicamycin and/or 2-deoxy-D-glucose was begun in rabbit eyes, the day after intrastromal inoculation of live RE strain HSV and several days before the appearance of stromal disease, no difference in the clinical course of herpetic ocular disease was seen between the experimental (treated) and control (untreated) groups.

Anticarcinoma activity in vivo of rhodamine 123, a mitochondrial-specific dye

Carcinoma cells and normal epithelial cells differ in the mitochondrial retention of a permeant cationic compound, rhodamine 123. The possibility of utilizing this difference in carcinoma chemotherapy was investigated. Rhodamine 123 exhibited anticarcinoma activity in mice, and this activity was potentiated by 2-deoxyglucose.

Failure of 2-deoxy-D-glucose and 5-thio-D-glucose to kill hypoxic cells of two murine tumors

We have administered the glycolysis inhibitors 2-deoxy-D-glucose and 5-thio-D-glucose to C3H/HeJ mice bearing KHT or 16/C transplantable tumors to seek evidence for hypoxic cell toxicity in vivo. The drugs were given (a) with or without insulin, (b) as large single doses or as multiple hourly injections, and (c) alone or immediately after the tumors had received radiation to kill most of the aerobic cell population. Tumor response was assessed by growth delay or by lung colony assay. Limiting toxicity of 2-deoxy-D-glucose and 5-thio-D-glucose was neurological, leading to seizures and/or death, and this toxicity was increased by insulin. The drugs had at most minimal effects on the growth of either untreated or irradiated tumors at maximal tolerated doses. Despite the known selective toxicity of these glucose analogues for hypoxic cells in tissue culture, we have found them to be ineffective in killing hypoxic cells of two murine tumors.

Gastric acid secretion and the changes of blood gastrin, glucose and insulin levels following 2-deoxy-D-glucose administration in hypersecretory and normosecretory duodenal ulcer patients

Changes in gastric acid output, as well as the concentration of serum gastrin, blood glucose and serum insulin were measured in hypersecretory and normosecretory duodenal ulcer patients following 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) administration. The stimulation of gastric acid secretion caused by 2-DG was accompanied by a rise in serum gastrin and blood glucose concentrations. The values of serum gastrin measured during the test were significantly higher in hypersecretors. Despite high glucose level, there was no significant increase in serum insulin concentration both in hypersecretors and in normosecretors.

Failure of 2-deoxy-D-glucose in the treatment of experimental cutaneous and genital infections due to herpes simplex virus

The effectiveness of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) was evaluated in the treatment of cutaneous infections with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in mice and genital infections with HSV type 2 (HSV-2) in mice and guinea pigs. Groups of mice were inoculated in the lumbosacral or orofacial area with HSV-1 and treated topically three times a day with 0.2% or 0.5% 2-DG solution beginning 3 hr after inoculation. No effect on skin lesions, mortality, or latency was observed. Mice were inoculated intravaginally with HSV-2 and treated intravaginally three times a day with 0.2%-5% 2-DG in solution or suspended in miconazole nitrate cream beginning 6 hr, 24 hr, or 48 hr after inoculation. Replication of HSV-2 in the vagina and final mortality were not affected. Guinea pigs were infected intravaginally with HSV-2 and treated both intravaginally and topically on the external genitalia four times a day with 1% or 5% 2-DG in miconazole nitrate cream. Treatment initiated just prior to development of lesions (on day 3 after inoculation) did not alter vaginal virus replication, lesion development and severity, or virus titers in lesions.

Lack of efficacy of 2-deoxy-D-glucose in the treatment of experimental herpes genitalis in guinea pigs

Topical treatment of herpes genitalis in female guinea pigs with 2-deoxy-D-glucose in either agarose gels or miconazole nitrate ointments failed to prevent the development of genital lesions or to reduce the mean titers of recoverable virus in vaginal swabs from infected animals. In contrast, phosphonoacetic acid was therapeutically effective.

Chemotherapeutic value of 2-deoxy-D-glucose in infectious bovine rhinotracheitis viral infection in calves

Daily injection of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-dG) had no protective effect against respiratory tract infection in calves caused by infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. It also did not reduce the severity of this infection. Ocular instillation of the drug, however, markedly reduced the severity of viral-induced conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis. The drug was effective when given at the time of ocular infection or after clinical conjunctivitis developed.

Successful treatment of human genital herpes infections with 2-deoxy-D-glucose

Thirty-six women with genital herpes infections (proved by virological or cytological means) were treated in a double-blind placebo-controlled study with the glucose analogue 2-deoxy-D-glucose for a three-week period. In initial mucocutaneous cases, 89% were cured, with two recurrences after 24 months; in the case of recurrent or secondary infections, 90% had a notable improvement manifested by no or less-frequent recurrences, fewer lesions, or shortened duration of symptoms. In initial infections, discomfort cleared within 12 to 72 hours of therapy; 90% of the patients were asymptomatic within four days. In both cases, virus shedding was notably reduced by 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Concomitant controls treated with placebos failed to respond within this time frame. The use of 2-deoxy-D-glucose provides a simple and unique approach to the treatment of genital herpesvirus infections.

[Recurrent herpes simplex. The situation in the United States]

At present, there is no drug marketed in the United States for the treatment of herpes simplex, except for idoxuridine for the treatment of herpetic keratitis. The recent enthusiasm for the use of heterocyclice fluorescent dyes in conjunction with exposure to light (photodynamic inactivation) has diminished, and the efficacy of all available topical measures is being questioned. Of the numerous antiviral drugs being investigated, the following seem to show promise: idoxuridine, adenin arabinoside, trifluorothymidine, phosphonoacetic acid, and ribavirin. There are no vaccines available. Measures to stimulate immune response concern the use of levamisole hydrochloride, Interferon, Inosiplex and Transfer factor. Only adenine arabinoside will be available in the near future, and then only to serious life threatening infections. The marketing of other medications is several years in the future.