Growth Inhibition of Mouse Ascites Tumour Cells by Powdered Tragacanth (Tragacanthæ Pulvis, B.P.)

Abstract

DURING experiments designed to explore possible short-term effects of ‘Busulphan’ (1 : 4-dimethane-sulphonyloxybutane or ‘Myleran’) on mouse ascites tumour cells, the drug was injected intraperitoneally in suspension in arachis oil or in an aqueous solution of compound powder of tragacanth into C+ male mice bearing the Landschutz ascites tumour. Neither the arachis oil suspension of ‘Busulphan’ nor the oil alone produced any inhibition of tumour cell growth. However, both the suspension of ‘Busulphan’ in compound powder of tragacanth solution and the tragacanth solution alone totally inhibited the tumour, as judged by absence of ascites tumour cells (and of solid tumour) seven days after injection of 25 mgm. of the compound in ½ c.c. water or saline. The same result was obtained after a lower dose of the powder (2.5 mgm. per mouse), in all cases injected one day after the inoculation of the tumour cells. A dose of 10 mgm. per mouse in a 3-day-old tumour prolonged longevity two-fold (longevity in days for treated: control tumour-bearing animals = 33 : 16). Of other tumours tested, total inhibition was also obtained at a dose of 2.5 mgm. per mouse seven days after inoculation of the Bp8 ascites tumour in C3H mice; but no effect was observed by intravenous or subcutaneous administration to C+ mice bearing a solid subcutaneous implant of the C+ leucæmia. (This arose in the Chester Beatty Research Institute as a spontaneous lymphocytic leucæmia in C+ mice.)