Augmentation of immune functions and autologous tumor-killing activity by kappa-selenocarrageenan in mice bearing sarcoma 180

Abstract

Objective: To study the enhancement of the immune functions and autologous tumor-killing (ATK) activity by kappa-selenocarrageenan (KSC) in mice bearing sarcoma 180. Methods: To measure the effects of KSC and/or Cyclophosphamide (Cy) on natural killer (NK) activity, lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity, the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), ATK activity and the growth of sarcoma 180 (S180). Results: KSC promoted NK activity, LAK activity and ATK activityin vivo, increased IL-2 production at 40 mg/kg/d×9d. It also enhanced the antitumor action of Cy (20 mg/kg/d×9d) and offset the inhibition of Cy on immunocopetent cells. The ATK activity in splenocytes of S180-bearing mice could be induced and increased by recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)in vitro. Conclusion: KSC has an up- regulating effect on the immune functions and ATK activity in tumor-bearing mice. It can be used as a biological response modifier (BRM) in cancer biotherapy.