Local destruction of malignant growths was achieved rapidly by creating around their cells a strongly hypertonic environment. Various
hexoses, injected in and around
tumors at 37 degrees, were utilized to produce the osmotic disturbance. Homeostatic correction of the osmotic disturbance was prevented by local
ischemia, induced by vasoconstriction, and maintained soon afterwards by
thrombosis. Of the few vasoactive agents tested for this purpose,
serotonin was the safest and most effective. It worked better when mixed with the
hexose than when injected separately s.c. at a distance. The best response to treatment was obtained from
tumors which were unattached to deep structures, poorly vascularized, and resistant to an increase of internal pressure, whereas special precautions had to be taken with friable
neoplasms to avoid dissemination of
metastases. Under certain conditions, by causing acute
tumor necrosis, a single treatment achieved a high ratio of cure; in which a favorable immune response to dramatic reduction of
tumor burden and to resorbed lysed material perhaps played a part.