The effect of levamisole on experimental carcinogenesis of rat submandibular gland

Abstract

Sixty young adult male albino rats were studied for the effect of a non-specific enhancer of cell-mediated immunity (levamisole) on the development of chemically induced tumours of submandibular gland. Levamisole was previously shown to delay chemical carcinogenesis of hamster buccal pouch and it was felt that these findings should be confirmed in another species and another experimental tumour system. Group 1 animals received a pellet of 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) implanted into the right submandibular glands and were injected with 0.6 mg levamisole once daily on three consecutive days at intervals of two weeks. Group 2 animals were implanted with DMBA but received no levamisole. Groups 3 and 4 were levamisole-treated and untreated controls. Group 1 animals (DMBA-levamisole) showed delayed carcinogenesis of submandibular gland. Group 2 (DMBA) animals developed tumours more rapidly and they demonstrated more anaplasia and greater invasiveness than those developing in the levamisole-injected animals.