Arginine deprivation and metabolomics: Important aspects of intermediary metabolism in relation to the differential sensitivity of normal and tumour cells

Arginine deprivation causes many types of tumour cells to die, often because they cannot recover or convert urea cycle intermediates into arginine. The powerful homeostatic mechanisms that kicks in to restore arginine levels in vivo are lacking in vitro, where there is no supply of citrulline. Comparison between cells deprived of arginine by direct elimination methods or indirectly via arginine degrading enzymes should show differences depending on their ability to handle alternative intermediates (ornithine, citrulline and argininosuccinate) of the urea cycle. The internal state of cells that can, versus those that cannot, use intermediates will metabolically be quite different. These differences should provide clear indicators regarding the sensitivity (susceptibility) of cells to arginine deprivation, from which we will be in a much better position to judge which tumours to treat, and possibly how to design the best treatment to eliminate them.