Antitumor activity of Virulizin, a novel biological response modifier (BRM) in a panel of human pancreatic cancer and melanoma xenografts.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To define the anticancer efficacy of Virulizin in vivo as a single agent or in combination with conventional drugs in human pancreatic tumor and melanoma xenografts.

METHODS:

The therapeutic effect of Virulizin was evaluated in a series of human tumor xenografts in athymic nude mice.

RESULTS:

Virulizin had a high level of antitumor activity against all the pancreatic tumors (BxPC-3, SU 86.86. and Mia-PaCa-2) and melanomas (C8161 and A2058), as indicated by suppression of tumor growth with an optimal T/C value of <or=40% when administered as a single agent. No significant changes in Virulizin antitumor activity were observed when different schedules (3 days/week vs 7 days/week) or routes of administration (i.p. vs i.m.) were used. In combination therapy, Virulizin significantly enhanced the antitumor activity of gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil against pancreatic tumors and of dacarbazine against metastatic melanomas, as reflected by a further decrease in tumor growth as compared to tumors in animals treated with the conventional drugs alone.

CONCLUSION:

These studies suggest that Virulizin effectively inhibits the growth of solid human pancreatic tumors and melanomas in the xenograft model.

• Authors: Ningping Feng, Hongnan Jin, Ming Wang, Caigan Du, Jim A Wright, Aiping H Young
• Journal: Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology (Cancer Chemother Pharmacol) Vol. 51 Issue 3 Pg. 247-55 (Mar 2003) ISSN: 0344-5704 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 12655444 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Tissue Extracts
• virulizin

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Animals
• Bile
• Female
• Humans
• Injections, Intramuscular
• Injections, Intraperitoneal
• Melanoma (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Neoplasms, Experimental
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Skin Neoplasms (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Tissue Extracts
• Transplantation, Heterologous