The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of the anticancer effect of
Ukrain by comparing the processes of formation of the pool of free
amino acids and their derivatives in the blood plasma and
tumor biopsy specimens and unchanged bladder tissue in 28 patients with T1N0M0
bladder cancer. The examination was carried out before and after
Ukrain treatment (10 mg i.v./day, for 20 days), which was combined with systemic
chemotherapy for
bladder cancer. Twenty-eight patients served as controls and received systemic
chemotherapy only. Compared with healthy donors, the blood plasma of patients with
urinary bladder cancer showed decreased concentrations of
thiol-containing free
amino acids and
glutamine (Gln) and increased levels of nonessential (
glutamic acid,
proline,
alanine) and aromatic (
phenylalanine) free
amino acids. In contrast to conventional
chemotherapy, treatment with
Ukrain eliminated the blood plasma
amino acid imbalance in patients with
bladder cancer, concomitantly enriching the pool of free
amino acids and their derivatives in unchanged urinary bladder tissue and decreasing concentrations of Gln and
leucine (Leu), regulators of malignant cell proliferation and differentiation, by 30-50%. In this situation, the concentrations of Gln and Leu in
tumor tissue and the surrounding healthy urinary bladder tissue correlated highly significantly and negatively (r = -0.95). In conclusion,
Ukrain prevents active free
amino acid transport into urinary bladder
tumor tissue, inhibiting the activities of protein biosynthesis, gluconeogenesis and energy production. The combined decrease in Gln and Leu levels in urinary bladder
tumor tissue is a specific sign of the antitumor effect of
Ukrain and a mechanism of its cancerostatic action by controlling the processes of
amino acid pool formation in the
tumor.