Proteolytic enzymes may have potential value in the prophylaxis of malignant
tumor development. C3H/HEJ mice, used for their ability to produce spontaneous mammary
tumors, were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with
proteolytic enzyme hydrolysate at a dosage range of 0.038 to 0.462 mg/gm
body weight. The
injections were given every other day, once a day for six months. The pathology results showed suppression of growth, and
necrosis (and in some cases encapsulation) of the mammary
tumors in C3H/HEJ mice. Concurrently, SP 2/0-AG 14 cells grown in the presence of 0.25 mg
enzyme/ml to 3.75 mg
enzyme/ml of
proteolytic enzymes, showed little cellular deterioration when the dosage range remained below 1 mg
enzyme/ml. When dosage ranges were greater than 1 mg
enzyme/ml, cellular
necrosis occurred within three days of the addition of the
proteolytic enzymes. These results demonstrate that the
proteolytic enzymes used in these experiments were beneficial in preventing
tumor development and prolonging survival of C3H/HEJ mice when used in the appropriate concentration range. A portion of these results were presented elsewhere (2nd Int. Biotechnol. Expo; Oct. 1989; San Francisco).