The influence of ImuVert, a biological response modifier, on the growth and ganglioside composition of murine neural tumors.

• Abstract: ImuVert is a biological response modifier (BRM) that has antitumor effects in humans and rats. The influence of ImuVert on the ganglioside composition of two experimental brain tumors, ependymoblastoma and CT-2A, was studied in C57BL/6J mice. Gangliosides are expressed on plasma membranes and can serve as markers to distinguish neural cells from nonneural cells in mouse brain tumors. N-acetylneuraminic (NeuAc) is the predominant sialic acid in mouse neural cells, whereas N-glycolylneuraminic (NeuGc) is a major sialic acid in nonneural cells, e.g., macrophages and lymphocytes. ImuVert treatment increased the NeuGc ganglioside concentration in the ependymoblastoma, but had no effect on the sialic acid concentration in the CT-2A brain tumor. ImuVert also had a slight inhibitory effect on the growth of both brain tumors.
• Authors: M Cotterchio, T N Seyfried (Affiliation: Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02167.)
• Journal: Molecular and chemical neuropathology / sponsored by the International Society for Neurochemistry and the World Federation of Neurology and research groups on neurochemistry and cerebrospinal fluid (Mol Chem Neuropathol) Vol. 20 Issue 2 Pg. 163-72 (Oct 1993) ISSN: 1044-7393 [Print] UNITED STATES
• PMID: 8297420 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Biological Products
• Gangliosides
• Immunologic Factors
• ImuVert

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Biological Products
• Brain Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Division (drug effects)
• Ependymoma (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Female
• Gangliosides (metabolism)
• Immunologic Factors (pharmacology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL