L-Canavanine (CAV) is an arginine (ARG) analog isolated from the jack bean, Canavalia ensiformis. CAV becomes incorporated into cellular proteins of MIA PaCa-2 human pancreatic cancer cells and the aberrant, canavanyl proteins are not preferentially degraded. Hydrolytic cleavage of CAV to canaline (CAN) and urea is mediated by arginase. CAN is a potent metabolite that inactivates vitamin B6-containing enzymes and may inhibit cell growth. To determine the presence of arginase and its specificity for ARG and CAV in MIA PaCa-2 cells, a radiometric assay, which quantifies the 14C released from the hydrolytic cleavage of L-[guanidino-14C]ARG or L-[guanidinooxy-14C]CAV mediated by arginase, was employed. Insignificant amounts of 14CO2 were released when cells were exposed to [14C]CAV or to [14C]ARG. Pancreatic cancer cells secrete a negligible amount of arginase. Cytotoxic effects of CAN and CAV were compared on cells exposed to varying concentrations of ARG. These studies provide evidence that CAV's cytotoxic effects on MIA PaCa-2 cells cannot be attributed to conversion to the active metabolite CAN. A slower and decreased hydrolysis of CAV by arginase allows CAV to persist and increases its chances of incorporating into proteins in these cells. Lack of considerable amounts of arginase in the pancreas makes CAV a worthy candidate for further studies in pancreatic cancer.

L-Canavanine (CAV) is a potent L-arginine antagonist, produced by legumes such as the jack bean, Canavalia ensiformis. CAV is cytotoxic to MIA PaCa-2 human pancreatic cancer cells. We sought to determine whether CAV's efficacy as an anticancer agent might be increased in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a pyrimidine antimetabolite with activity against solid tumors. Using optimal conditions for the expression of CAV's cytotoxicity against MIA PaCa-2 cells, CAV was more cytotoxic to the cells than 5-FU. The combination of both drugs at a fixed molar ratio of 1:1 exhibited synergistic effects in the cells as determined by combination index analysis. The combination of 5-FU:CAV was tested at a ratio of 5:1 and exhibited antagonism at lower effect levels, additivity at 50% effect levels and slight synergism at higher effect levels. A 10:1 combination of both drugs (5-FU:CAV) exhibited antagonistic effects at all levels. When the drugs were combined at a molar ratio of 20:1, increased antagonism was observed. When CAV (1.0 or 2.0 g/kg daily) and/or 5-FU (35 mg/kg daily) was administered to colonic tumor-bearing rats for five consecutive days, the antitumor activity of the drug combination was significantly greater than the combined effects of either drug alone. However, the body weight loss experienced by CAV-treated rats was increased in those rats exposed to a combination of both drugs. These studies using different tumors provide in vitro and in vivo evidence that combination therapy offers a viable means of improving CAV's intrinsic efficacy while decreasing the concentration of 5-FU required to produce the same cytotoxic effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)