Further Study on the Influence of an Aqueous Extract of Suprarenal Cortex on the Growth of Carcinoma, Sarcoma, and Melanoma in Animals

Abstract

In a preceding paper (1) it was clearly shown that repeated subcutaneous or intramuscular injections of aqueous, alcoholic, ether, or glycerine extracts of sheep suprarenal cortex produced no effect upon the growth of transplanted carcinoma, sarcoma, and melanoma in animals. The extraction was done at a temperature of 6°C, 20°C, or 37°C, in order to obtain satisfactory yields of any active principle which might prove capable of inhibiting the tumor growth. Our first experiments were made prior to the publication of the details of preparation of the Coffey-Humber extract. It would appear from the published method of these investigators (2) that their extraction was carried out at higher temperatures than those employed by us, namely, at from 60°C. to 85°C. In view of the interest which has been developed in connection with the extract of suprarenal cortex and in internal secretion therapy in cancer, we felt it desirable to investigate the activity of extracts. Experimental As in the case of the previous investigation, the Flexner-Jobling rat carcinoma, the Sugiura rat sarcoma, the Bashford mouse carcinoma No. 63, a transplantable mouse melanoma, and the Rous chicken sarcoma were selected for study. The behavior of these transplantable tumors in the hosts has been reported elsewhere.