2-Deoxy-D-[1-3H]glucose uptake by MCF7 and T47D breast tumour cells under conditions of active proliferation and serum deprivation

Experimental biological therapies for cancer are being developed which interfere with growth factor activated cell signalling. Removal of serum from cultured MCF7 and T47D breast tumour cells is accompanied by decreased cell proliferation as a consequence of growth factor deprivation.
METHODS:
S-phase fraction and the uptake of 2-Deoxy-D-[1-3H]glucose by logarithmic MCF7 and T47D breast tumour cells was measured when cells were grown in the presence of serum and 24 hours after serum-deprivation.
RESULTS:
Removal of serum from early log phase T47D cells was associated with a decrease in both the proliferative fraction (S-phase) and the uptake of 2-deoxy-D-[1-3H]glucose compared with cells maintained in the presence of serum. However, as cells progressed through log phase growth the effect of serum-deprivation on S-phase fraction was less pronounced and there was no significant change in the uptake of 2-Deoxy-D-[1-3H]glucose between serum deprived and serum maintained T47D cells in late log phase. Essentially the same pattern was observed with MCF7 cells.
CONCLUSIONS:
The present study suggests that inhibition of cell growth by growth factor removal may be monitored by changes in DG uptake.