Incorporation of Acetate-1-C14 Into Cholesterol by Human Intracranial Tumors In Vitro2

Abstract
Normal adult human brain does not incorporate C14-labeled acetate into cholesterol in vitro. Under similar conditions, glioblastoma multiforme, astrocytomas, meningiomas, neurofibromas, acoustic neurinomas, and ependymomas can accomplish this conversion. The synthetic pathway in the tumors appears to be similar to that in normal liver tissue. Cholesterol biosynthesis in human central nervous system tumors is inhibited by oral administration of vanadium as diammonium oxytartratovanadate.