Chemotherapeutic Experiments with Coal-Tar Dyes on Spontaneous Mouse Tumors

Abstract

We are aware that these attempts to influence the growth of tumors may seem to partake of the haphazard and casual. Many different substances and of widely different chemical structure have been injected into tumor-bearing animals, with a therapeutic purpose.1 Most of these attempts have been failures or have had but temporary or equivocal success. The basis or justification of such experiments is clear and follows the obvious and ancient tradition of therapeutics,—to give medicine. That many such attempts must be wholly or partly empiric goes without question. The great importance which would attach to any clue or leading suggestion obtained from any substance whatever capable of repeated administration to the animal organism without serious injury, justifies persistent essays to test the effect on cancer of the most various groups of chemical agents. Obviously in many such cases no cogent a priori reason could be given for expecting other than adverse or negative results. In view of the usefulness of accidental observations and unexpected results throughout the field of experimental science and the barren field of medication in cancer, it seems justifiable and expedient to investigate even unpromising fields. We have aimed to test representatives of all the major chemical groups into which the innumerable coloring matters derived from coal-tar are classified and to this end have selected upwards of seventy actual or potential dyes. No attempt has been made to select toxic compounds, to combine them with metals, or to confine to agents having medicinal, vital staining, or tumoraffine properties, but rather to seek any organic bodies in this group which might in any way influence growth of spontaneous tumors and hence furnish a possible clue to specific or general action in chemotherapy. A few pharmaceuticals not used as dyes have been included. We wish here to record the results with about thirty of these tests reserving the unfinished remainder for a future report, to include a classificatory tabulation of the dyes and some references to the bibliography of the subject.