Specific Effects of a Hepatoma on Metabolic Capabilities of the Liver in Tumor-Bearing Rats

Summary The presence of a transplantable hepatoma led to changes in host liver metabolic capabilities during the early stages of tumor growth. The changes included increases of liver wet weight and cathepsin activity and decreases of fructose-1,6-diphosphatase activity, microsomal drug-metabolizing activities, cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity. The nature and early appearance of these changes and the failure of liver implants to produce similar changes suggest that there may be specific directive effects of the tumor on host tissues. The low respiratory control ratio seen with hepatoma mitochondria preparations did not reflect an increased rate of deterioration with storage.