Ability of sera from mice treated with Ge-132, an organic germanium compound, to inhibit experimental murine ascites tumours

Sera from C57Bl/6 mice treated orally with Ge-132 exhibited antitumour activity against Ehrlich (allogeneic) and RL male 1 (syngeneic) ascites tumours in BALB/c mice. Sera obtained from mice 24 h after Ge-132 administration displayed the greatest antitumour effect and this was dose dependent. Sera prepared from mice 12, 36, or 48 h after Ge-132 treatment had no protective effect. Circulating interferon (IFN) was induced at 24 h after administration of Ge-132 but was not detected in the sera at 12, 36, or 48 h after administration. The antiviral activity of sera from Ge-132-treated mice was inactivated by treatments with trypsin, low pH, and anti-IFN gamma antiserum. The inactivated preparations of serum IFN induced by Ge-132 did not exhibit antitumour activity when administered to tumour-bearing mice. These results suggest that antitumour activity in the sera of Ge-132-treated mice may be expressed through activities of Ge-132-induced lymphokine(s), such as IFN gamma.     

Suppression of tumor growth by peritoneal macrophages isolated from mice treated with carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132)

In a murine model it has been shown that the antitumor activity of carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) can be depleted by administration of macrophage (M phi) blockers. In the present study, the role that M phi play in the antitumor activity of the compound was investigated. Oral administration of Ge-132 in mice was demonstrated to be effective in activating M phi (Ge-132-cytotoxic M phi), and the cytotoxic activity of these M phi appeared in the peritoneal cavity of mice 48 hours after the oral administration of the compound. Co-cultivation of RL male-1 leukemia or Ehrlich carcinoma cells with Ge-132-cytotoxic M phi in vitro resulted in marked suppression of the growth of tumor cells. The transfer of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC), or purified M phi fractions of PEC from Ge-132-treated mice to mice bearing Ehrlich or RL male-1 ascites tumors resulted in significant protection. However, when the cytotoxic M phi were depleted by carbonyl-iron treatment in vitro, no antitumor effect was demonstrated in mice bearing Ehrlich or RL male-1 ascites tumors. Macrophage fractions obtained from PEC of Ge-132-treated mice exhibited an inhibitory effect against certain tumors both in vivo and in vitro suggesting that the antitumor effect of Ge-132 observed in vivo resulted from the activation of M phi.     

Antitumor activity of Ge-132, a new organogermanium compound, in mice is expressed through the functions of macrophages and T lymphocytes

The antitumor activity of Ge-132 against a variety of allogeneic and syngeneic murine ascites tumors was first evaluated. The antitumor effects of Ge-132 were observed when mice inoculated with Ehrlich carcinoma (allogeneic) or RL male 1 leukemia (syngeneic) cells were treated orally. However, Ge-132 had no activity on a T-cell lymphoma (EL 4, syngeneic) or a methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma (Meth-A, syngeneic). The antitumor effect of Ge-132 in mice was related to the dose administered as well as the administration schedule. The antitumor activity of Ge-132 was next studied in mice pretreated with some blockers against immunocompetent cells. The antitumor efficacy of Ge-132 was not observed when tumor-bearing mice were treated with trypan blue and carrageenan or monoclonal anti-Thy 1.2 antibody. However, when natural killer cells were eliminated from mice bearing RL male 1 or Ehrlich ascites tumors by treatment with anti-asialo GM 1 antiserum, the antitumor efficacy of the compound was unchanged. These results suggest that Ge-132 is effective against certain ascites tumors regardless of whether the tumor is syngeneic or allogeneic. Further, its effect might be expressed through host defense mechanisms, including macrophages and/or T lymphocytes.     

Antitumor mechanisms of carboxyethyl-germanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) in mice bearing Ehrlich ascites tumors

The administration of IFN-containing sera (Ge-sera) obtained from Ge-132-treated mice (Ge-mice) or the passive transfer of macrophages (M phi) to mice bearing ascites tumors resulted in the inhibition of tumor growth. The cooperative role of Ge-sera and Ge-M phi in the display of Ge-132-antitumor activity was studied. When mice were pretreated with antimouse IFN gamma antiserum, no IFN-inducing or antitumor activities of the compound were detected. Cytotoxic activities were detected in peritoneal M phi of mice treated with Ge-sera, and passive transfer of these M phi to tumor-bearing mice resulted in the inhibition of tumor growth. When tumor-bearing mice were pretreated with substances toxic to M phi, no antitumor activity of Ge-sera was observed. However, Ge-132 antitumor activity was observed in mice depleted of T-cells, even though the antitumor effects of the compound itself were not demonstrable in T-cell-depleted mice. Therefore, a part of the antitumor activity of Ge-132 appears to be expressed as follows: Ge-132 stimulates T-cells to produce circulating lymphokine(s) which are inactivated by anti-IFN gamma treatment; activated M phi are generated from resting M phi by these lymphokine(s); the transplanted tumors are inhibited by these M phi.     

Cooperation of lymphokine(s) and macrophages in expression of antitumor activity of carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132)

The administration of IFN containing sera (Ge-sera) obtained from Ge-132-treated mice (Ge-mice) or the passive transfer of macrophages (M phi) to mice bearing ascites tumors resulted in the inhibition of tumor growth. The cooperative role of Ge-sera and Ge-M phi in the display of Ge-132-antitumor activity was studied. When mice were pretreated with antimouse IFN gamma antiserum, no IFN-inducing and antitumor activities of the compound were detected. Cytotoxic activities were detected on peritoneal M phi of mice treated with Ge-sera, and passive transfer of these M phi to tumor-bearing mice resulted in the inhibition of tumor growth. When tumor-bearing mice were pretreated with substances toxic to M phi, there was no antitumor activity of Ge-sera observed. However, there was antitumor activity of Ge-sera in mice depleted of T-cells, even though the antitumor effects of the compound itself were not demonstrable in T-cell depleted mice. Therefore, a part of the antitumor activity of Ge-132 may appear to be expressed as follows: (1) Ge-132 stimulated T-cells to produce circulating lymphokine(s) which were inactivated by anti-IFN gamma treatment; (2) activated M phi were generated from resting M phi by such lymphokine(s); (3) the transplanted tumors were inhibited by these M phi.     

Importance of T-cells and macrophages in the antitumor activity of carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effective mechanisms of Ge-132, an organogermanium compound with immunomodulatory activity, on experimental murine ascites tumors. The antitumor effects of Ge-132 were observed when mice inoculated with Ehrlich carcinoma (allogeneic) or RL male 1 leukemia (syngeneic) cells were treated orally. However, Ge-132 had no activity on EL-4 lymphoma (syngeneic) or Meth A fibrosarcoma (syngeneic). The antitumor activity of Ge-132 was not observed when tumor-bearing mice were treated with trypan blue, carrageenan, or monoclonal anti-Thy 1.2 antibody. However, when natural killer (NK) cells were eliminated from mice bearing RL male 1 or Ehrlich ascites tumors by treatment with anti-asialo GM1 antiserum, the antitumor activity of the compound was unchanged. This suggests that Ge-132 was effective against certain ascites tumors regardless of whether the tumor was syngeneic or allogeneic. Furthermore, its effect might be expressed through host defense mechanisms, including macrophages and/or T-cells.     

Antitumor effect in mice of an organic germanium compound (Ge-132) when different administration methods are used

The antitumor effect of an organic germanium compound, carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132), was examined in mice using two systems: one, the ascitic form of Ehrlich carcinoma in DDI mice, and the other, the solid form of Meth-A fibrosarcoma in BALB/c mice. In the mice with Ehrlich ascitic tumors, a remarkable prolongation in life span was observed after intraperitoneal (i.p.) or per oral (p.o.) administration of Ge-132 (300 mg/kg), but not after intravenous (i.v.) injection of the same compound. Following i.p. or p.o. administration, cytotoxic macrophages (M?) were induced in the peritoneal cavity after 48 h. although this was not the case after i.v. injections. When the in vivo effect of these in vitro active M? was examined after adoptive transfer to mice bearing Ehrlich ascitic tumor cells, a significant antitumor effect was noted. In the mice bearing solid Meth-A tumors, i.v. injections of Ge-132 (100 mg/kg) were found to inhibit tumor growth remarkably, although i.p. and p.o. administrations did not have the same result. This inhibitory effect of Ge-132 by i.v. administration was explained by the continued augmentation of NK activity in peripheral blood, which was followed by the induction of specific killer cells appearing in the spleen. When the mice which had recovered from Meth-A tumor growth, following i.v. injections of Ge-132, were challenged with the same tumor on day 30, all mice were able to tolerate the challenge, but not a challenge of RL male 1 tumor cells. These observations may indicate that the differing antitumor effects of Ge-132 produced when different administration methods are used can be explained by the variation in effector cells induced by such different administration routes.     

Induction of interferon and activation of NK cells and macrophages in mice by oral administration of Ge-132, an organic germanium compound

After oral administration of an organic germanium compound, Ge-132 (300 mg/kg), a significant level of interferon (IFN) activity was detected in the sera of mice at 20 hr and it reached a maximum of 320 U/ml at 24 hr. This IFN activity was lost after heat- or acid-treatment, suggesting that the induced IFN is of gamma nature. The molecular weight of this IFN was estimated to be 19,000 daltons by gel filtration. After the oral administration of Ge-132, NK activity of spleen cells had increased at 24 hr and cytotoxic macrophages were induced in the peritoneal cavity at 48 hr. In mice, receiving intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of trypan blue or carrageenan 2 days before oral administration of Ge-132, neither induction of IFN nor augmentation of NK activity followed. X ray irradiation of mice also rendered the mice incapable of producing IFN, all suggesting that both macrophages and lymphocytes are required for this IFN induction. After i.p. administration of induced IFN, both NK and cytotoxic macrophage activities appeared at 48 hr with as little as 20 U/ml titered IFN. These facts may indicate that the augmentation of NK and activation of macrophages in mice after oral administration of Ge-132 is mediated by induced IFN.     

双β-羧乙基锗倍半氧化物对小鼠和裸鼠移植性肿瘤生长的影响

我们研究了双β-羧乙基锗倍半氧化物(Ge—132)的抗瘤作用,结果表明对小鼠Harding—Passey黑色素瘤(M—HP)、艾氏腹水癌实体瘤(ESC)和裸鼠移植人肺鳞癌的生长有明显的抑制作用,并发现Ge—132与DDP合并应用对抗裸鼠移植人肺鳞癌有协同作用。     

Importance of Lyt 1+ T-cells in the antitumor activity of an immunomodulator, SSM, extracted from human-type Tubercle bacilli

An arabinomannan lipid extracted from Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain Aoyama B (SSM) is an immunopotentiating agent with interferon-inducing and antitumor activities. In the present study, the possible role(s) of various immunocompetent cells on the antitumor effect of SSM was investigated in mice bearing syngeneic (RL male 1 leukemia) and allogeneic (Ehrlich carcinoma) ascites tumors. When Thy 1+ T-cells were depleted from tumor-bearing mice by the administration of monoclonal anti-Thy 1.2 antibody, the protective effect of SSM was eliminated. However, when macrophage (M phi) and natural killer (NK) cell activities were depleted by treatment with M phi blockers (trypan blue and carrageenan) or a blocker for NK cells (anti-asialo GM1 antiserum), no alteration of the antitumor activity of SSM was observed. Therefore, T-lymphocytes, but not M phi or NK cells, were required for the expression of the antitumor efficacy of SSM. The antitumor activity of SSM was also abrogated by Lyt 1+ T-cells being depleted by treatment with monoclonal anti-Lyt 1.2 antibody, whereas the administration of monoclonal anti-Lyt 2.2 antibody had no effect on the antitumor activity. Independent of M phi, NK cells, or Lyt 2+ T-cells, Lyt 1+ T-lymphocytes appear to play an important role in the expression of the antitumor effects of SSM.     

Effect of combination immunochemotherapy with an organogermanium compound, Ge-132, and antitumor agents on C57BL/6 mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL)

The antitumor effect of combination immunochemotherapy with Ge-132 and antitumor agent was studied using C57BL/6 mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL). Ge-132 was administered orally at a daily dose of 100 mg/kg. Antitumor agents were administered intraperitoneally once a week. Initially, the effect of combination immunochemotherapy with Ge-132 and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was studied on 3LL local tumor growth, pulmonary metastases, survival, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) and body weight in tumor-bearing mice, and the following results were obtained: Inhibition of tumor growth in the combined group; Enhanced anti-metastatic effect; Prolonged survival time, and; Recovery of loss of both DTH and body weight as a result of combination therapy. These antitumor effects were also obtained by adoptive transfer of Ge-132-stimulated splenocytes in 5-FU-treated mice bearing 3LL. These results therefore suggest that the effects of Ge-132 were expressed through modification of immunocytes. Furthermore, Ge-132 enhanced the antitumor activity of bleomycin as well as that of 5-FU. These facts suggested that Ge-132 is useful for antitumor combination immunochemotherapy.     

Carcinostatic effect of aliphatic aldehydes and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in Ehrlich carcinoma, Sarcoma 180, and Yoshida AH 130 hepatoma.

The antitumor activity of 2,3-dihydroxybutyraldehyde on Ehrlich carcinoma, Sarcoma 180, and Yoshida AH 130 hepatoma, as well as the aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in these tumors, was studied. 2,3-Dihydroxybutyraldehyde at nontoxic doses (500 mg/kg body weight i.p. daily for 7 days) slowed down the growth of solid and ascites tumors in mice. The treatment completely prevented the development of Yoshida ascites hepatoma in several rats. 2,3-Dihydroxybutyraldehyde, although it did not influence the growth of Ehrlich carcinoma transplanted in the brain of mice, significantly decreased in the lungs of these animals the number of viable tumour cells that derived from the primary tumor. All the tested tumors, which were sensitive to the action of 2,3-dihydroxybutyraldehyde, were virtually devoid of aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. These results suggest a possible relationship between the lack of this enzyme activity and the antitumor activity of aliphatic aldehydes.     

Antitumor Activity of Oenothein B, a Unique Macrocyclic Ellagitannin

The antitumor effect of oenothein B, a macrocyclic ellagitannin from Oenothera erythrosepala Bordas, on rodent tumors was studied, Oenothein B exhibited a strong antitumor activity against MM2 ascites tumors upon intraperitoneal administration to the mice before or after the tumor inoculation. The tannin also inhibited the growth of Meth-A solid type tumor in mice. This antitumor effect of the tannin could not be attributed to its direct cytotoxic action on tumor cells, because the cytotoxicity was very weak in the presence of serum protein. When oenothein B was injected into the peritoneal cavity of mice, peritoneal exudate cells, including cytostatic macrophages, were induced. Furthermore, in the in vitro treatment of macrophages from mice and humans, the tannin stimulated release of an interleukin 1 (IL-1)-like activity and IL-1β from the cells. These results suggest that oenothein B exerts its antitumor effect through potentiation of the host-immune defense via activation of macrophages.     

Amentoflavone, a biflavonoid from Biophytum sensitivum augments lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer cell and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity through enhanced production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma and restrains serum sialic acid and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase production in tumor - bearing animals

Modulation of immune response is highly relevant in tumor cell destruction. The present study is focused on the effect of amentoflavone, a biflavonoid from Biophytum sensitivum on cell-mediated immune responses in normal and tumor-bearing control animals. Tumor was induced in BALB/c mice by intraperitoneal injection of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. Treatment of amentoflavone significantly enhanced natural killer cell activity in normal (42.8% cell lysis) and tumor bearing animals (48.2% cell lysis) on the fifth day, which was much earlier compared to tumor-bearing control animals (20.2% cell lysis on day 9). Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity was also increased in amentoflavone -treated normal (41% cell lysis on day 9) and tumor bearing animals (43.8% cell lysis on day 9) compared to untreated tumor bearing control animals (maximum of 15.2% cell lysis on day 13). Amentoflavone administration could significantly enhance the mitogen-induced splenocyte, thymocyte, and bone marrow cell proliferation. Treatment of amentoflavone significantly elevated the production of interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma in normal and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-bearing animals. Moreover amentoflavone treatment significantly reduced the elevated levels of serum sialic acid and serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase activity in tumor bearing animals.     

Immunological studies on mouse mammary tumors. II. Characterization of tumor-specific antibodies against mouse mammary tumors

After injection of isografted mammary tumor MM2 sensitized with rabbit antiserum, resistance was induced in C3H/He mice after repeated challenges with MM2. The serum taken from these mice was found to be cytotoxic against MM2 cells. The serum also inhibited the outgrowth of transplant of primary tissue culture cells of spontaneous mammary tumor of C3H/He mice. A series of transplanted mammary tumors recently converted into ascitic form in our laboratory (MM3, MM4-1, MM4-2, MM4-3, MM6, MM8, MM9, MM11, MM12 and MM13), and Ehrlich ascites tumor were found to be susceptible to this serum, as tested by trypan blue uptake in vitro. Outgrowth of these tumors was also inhibited when tumor premixed with this serum was injected. No cytotoxic effect was observed against normal mouse mammary gland cells of a C3H/He mouse. Sera obtained from hyperimmunized syngeneic C3H/He mice were able to fix complement with MM2 tumors. They were partially inactivated by heating at 56° C and by treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol. After gel filtration through Sephadex G-200, complement fixing and cytotoxic activity were found in both 19S and 7S fractions. The 7S fractions, after DEAE cellulose column chromatography, gave a precipititin line at the IgG position in immunoelectrophoresis. From the above evidence, it is concluded that the target cells of the cytotoxic factors of this serum are primary cultured cells or isografted cells of mammary tumors of C3H/He mice. The cytotoxic factors present in the serum are considered to be antibodies against isografts of mammary tumors in C3H/He mice.     

Modulatory effects of melatonin and vitamin E on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-bearing mice

Doxorubicin (Dox), an anthracycline antibiotic, has a wide spectrum of antitumor activity with dose-limiting cardiotoxicity. The drug's toxicity is known to be closely related to the generation of active oxygen free radicals. In our study the normal cardiac tissue contents of total protein, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly decreased, by 25%, 33% and 92%, respectively, in the group of mice bearing Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and treated with Dox (4 mg/kg/week x 2, ip). Administration of melatonin (5 mg/kg/day x 15, po) starting 24 hours prior to Dox treatment significantly increased the cardiac contents of total protein and GSH as well as the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, by 31%, 36% and 39%, respectively, compared to treatment with Dox only, while the content of MDA was decreased by 26%. Similarly, administration of vitamin E (250 mg/kg/day x 15, po) starting 24 hours prior to Dox treatment significantly increased the cardiac contents of total protein, GSH and SOD, by 23%, 26% and 42%, respectively, while the cardiac content of MDA was decreased by 35% compared with the Dox-only-treated group. As to the oncolytic activity of Dox, pretreatment of EAC-bearing mice with melatonin (5 mg/kg/day x 30, po) or vitamin E (250 mg/kg/day x 30, po) 24 hours prior to Dox administration (4 mg/kg/week x 4, ip) improved the antitumor activity of Dox as indicated by the increase in the average life span of the animals and the number of long-term survivors as well as the decrease in body weight loss induced by Dox treatment. It is clear from these results that administration of melatonin not only protects against the cardiotoxicity induced by Dox treatment but also enhances its antitumor activity to a more significant extent than does vitamin E.     

Immunomodulatory and Antitumor Activity of Biophytum sensitivum Extract

An alcoholic extract of Biophytum sensitivum was studied for its immunomodulatory and antitumor activity. Theextract was 100% toxic at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml to Dalton’s lymphoma ascites (DLA) and Ehrlich ascitescarcinoma (EAC) cells. B. sensitivum extract was also found to be cytotoxic towards L929 cells in culture at aconcentration of 0.1 mg/ml. Administration of B. sensitivum extract (500μg/dose/animal) could inhibit the solid tumordevelopment in mice induced with DLA cells and increase the lifespan of mice bearing Ehrlich ascites carcinomatumors by 93.3%. B. sensitivum treatment significantly (p<0.001) reduced the tumor cell glutathione (GSH) levels aswell as serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in ascites tumor bearing animals.The total WBC count was also increased to 14,087 cells/mm3 on the 12th day in BALB/c mice. The number of plaqueforming cells also enhanced significantly (p<0.001), and bone marrow cellularity and β-esterase positive cells werealso increased by the administration of B. sensitivum extract.     

羧乙基锗倍半氧化物对实验诱发小鼠前胃癌变率的影响

 用羧乙基锗倍半氧化物（Ge-132）处理NSEE诱发的小鼠前胃鳞状上皮增生、癌变，结果发现实验组的癌变率显着低于对照组（P<0.05）,抑癌率为42.9%,实验组核仁组成区相关嗜银蛋白（Ag-NOR）数目及不规则型颗粒的比例显着低子对照组（P<0.05）,而实验组之癌周淋巴细胞浸润反应程度较对照组显着增强（P<0,05）.以上结果表明Ge-132可显着降低NSEE诱发小鼠前胃癌的癌变率，并可影响Ag-NOR在小鼠前胃鳞状上皮细胞中的表达，Ge-132的以上作用可能与其提高小鼠局部细胞免疫力有关。     

Evaluation of the genotoxic,cytotoxic, and antitumor properties ofCommiphora molmol using normal and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell-bearing Swiss albino mice

The genotoxic, cytotoxic and antitumor properties ofCommiphora molmol (oleo gum resin) were studied in normal and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell-bearing mice. In normal mice, the genotoxic and cytotoxic activity was evaluated on the bases of the frequency of micronuclei and the ratio of polychromatic to normochromatic cells in bone marrow, which was substantiated by the biochemical changes in hepatic cells. The antitumor activity ofC. molmol was evaluated from the total count and viability of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells and their nucleic acid, protein, malondialdehyde, and elemental concentrations in addition to observations on survival and the trend of changes in body weight. The tumors at the site of injection were evaluated for histopathological changes. Treatment withC. molmol (125–500 mg/kg) showed no clastogenicity but was found to be highly cytotoxic in normal mice. The results obtained in the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell-bearing mice revealed the cytotoxic and antitumor activity ofC. molmol which was found to be equivalent to those of the standard cytotoxic drug cyclophosphamide. On the basis of the nonmutagenic, antioxidative, and cytotoxic potential ofC. molmol as observed in the present study, its use in cancer therapy seems to be appropriate and further investigations are suggested.     

Experimental study of antitumor effect of methyl-B12

We examined the antitumor effect of vitamin B12 (methyl-B12) using C3H/He, C57BL/6 and BALB/C mice for animals and MH134 hepatoma ascites cells, Lewis lung cancer cells and Ehrlich ascites tumor cells for tumor cells. At 1.0-10 micrograms/ml, methyl-B12 enhanced PHA- and Con-A-induced lymphocyte blastoformation of C3H/He mice. The growth of MH134 tumors on the backs of C3H/He mice were suppressed by the 7-day administration of 50 or 100 micrograms/day i.p. and their survival was longer than that of untreated mice. However, methyl-B12 administration did not positively affect the survival of C3H/He mice that had been irradiated with 60Co 300 R on the day before tumor cell inoculation. The growth of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells inoculated into BALB/C mice was also reduced at 17 and 19 days after tumor inoculation by administration of methyl-B12 50 micrograms/day i.p. and the mice survived longer than the untreated mice.