The Effect of Sodium Formaldehyde-Sulphoxylate on Eat Sarcoma

Abstract

Quite recently sodium formaldehydesulphoxylate has been used successfully in the treatment of bichloride of mercury poisoning in experimental animals and man by Rosenthal (1 and 2). This investigator emphasized the potent electronizing properties manifested by this substance even in highly diluted solutions and its innocuous nature when present in reasonably high concentrations in the circulation. Warburg (3) showed that tumor tissue exhibited abnormal carbohydrate metabolism in that it obtained most of its energy from glycolysis rather than from the usual gaseous exchange, and further, that tumor cells enjoyed a greater independence of adequate oxygen supply than normal cells. This work was confirmed by Crabtree (4). Ozorio de Almeida (5) established that several atmospheres of oxygen pressure caused the number of takes with transplantable sarcoma in rats to be reduced and brought about definite regression in inoculated rats. Furthermore, Brooks (6) showed that injections of methylene blue produced regressions in transplantable tumors in rats and mice. It occurred to the authors that the presence of formaldehydesulphoxylate in the circulation might influence the growth of transplantable rat tumors. Through the kindness of Dr. Warren Lewis of the Carnegie Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, an albino rat inoculated with the Walker sarcoma 319 (7) was obtained. The drug was tested for its capacity to influence the number of takes after inoculation and also for its favorable or retrogressive influence on the tumors by direct injection.