Effects of Corynebacterium parvum on tumour metastases in mice

Abstract

The effects of Corynebacterium parvum on the Lewis rung tumour and its metastases have been studied. Intravenous but not intraperitoneal or subcutaneous C. parvum reduced the growth of the primary tumour. Both intravenous and intraperitoneal C . paruum significantly reduced pulmonary metastases. When combined with excision of the p r i m r y tumour, C . parvumgiven not more than 2 days before excision caused only slight reduction of metastases, but when given intravenously or intraperitoneully 3-4 duys before excision, metastases were signiJicantly reduced and some mice were cured of tumour. Subcutaneous C. paruum had no effects on metastases. Non-specific operation (amputation) increased tumour metastases, but C. parvum counteracted this. Metastases were significantly increased by the administration of silica and cortisone acetate but were umffected by trypan blue. The antimetastatic action of C. paruum was not significantly altered by these treatments. Thymectomy and irradiation did not afect tumour metastases or the antimetastatic action of C. parvum, whereas antilymphocyte serum depressed metastasis and abrogated the protective effects of C. parvum.It appears that the inhibitory effects of C. parvum on tumour metastases are mediated through macrophages in concert with a subpopulation of Tz lymphocytes.

Coagulation and fibrinolysis during the infusion of Corynebacterium parvum in man

“…With such a severe physiological disturbance it would be expected that various cellular and metabolic functions would be altered. Most attention has been paid to changes in immunological function (Gill et at., 1977;Castro, 1977) but we have demonstrated marked activation of the fibrinolytic mechanism, with evidence of plasminogen activator release as well as increased lysis of fibrin(ogen). This stimulation appears to be rapidly controlled, for at 250 min most variables have returned to normal.…”

“…Levamisole, Bacille Calmette-Guerin and Corynebacterium parvum are all known to stimulate various components of the immune response, and C. parrum given i.v. inhibits primary tumour growth and metastasis formation in experimental animal tumours (Castro, 1977). The level of immunity is heightened by this treatment, as demonstrated by delayed hypersensitivity testing (Israel et al,.…”

Effect of intravenous corynebacterium parvum on peripheral-blood effector cells of cancer patients

“…over 1 h in normal saline, and vital signs were monitored hourly for 24 h. The i.v. route wNas chosen on the basis of experimental observation that this produced a greater anti-tumour effect than s.c. administration (Castro, 1977 dose used had been previously reported to be associated with mild clinical consequences in Phase I studies (Reed et al, 1975).…”