DOSE DEPENDENCE OF IMMUNOPOTENTIATION AND TUMOR REGRESSION INDUCED BY LEVAMISOLE

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (10) , 3526-3529
Abstract
Breast cancer was induced in female Sprague-Dawley rats by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. Once tumors became established, they were treated with varying doses of the immunopotentiating drug, levamisole. Tumor growth was measured in the various dosage groups, and at 6 mo. after tumor induction the animals were sacrificed. Their immunological competence at this time was measured by the mitogen responses of splenic lymphocytes. Untreated animals with breast cancer were immunosuppressed compared to normal animals. The drug levamisole resulted in immunopotentiation, but at high doses it was immunosuppressive. Tumor regression was observed at doses that resulted in immunopotentiation, but not at high doses. There was significant correlation between immune competence and tumor regression. Levamisole can cause regression of breast cancer in the rat but this effect is critically dependent on the dose of the drug. These observations confirm previous studies in human cells in vitro. High doses of the drug should be avoided in human clinical trials and patients who receive this drug should have their immune responses carefully monitored.

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