MOLONEY MURINE SARCOMA-VIRUS TUMORS IN CBA-J MICE - CHEMOPREVENTIVE AND CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC ACTIONS OF SUPPLEMENTAL BETA-CAROTENE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 68  (5) , 835-840
Abstract
Decreased tumor frequency, increased latent period, and increased rate of tumor regression were observed in male inbred CBA/J mice fed supplemental .beta.-carotene before and/or after they were inoculated with the Moloney sarcoma virus. When .beta.-carotene feeding was begun after tumors were already present, it markedly increased the rate of tumor regression. .beta.-Carotene minimized the virus-induced thymus gland involution that accompanies tumor growth, and this action on the thymus gland was believed to underlie part of .beta.-carotene''s antitumor activity. The basal diet, a standard commercial mouse chow containing more vitamin A than the National Research Council recommends as a daily allowance for rodents, supported normal growth, reproduction and longevity of normal mice. This is the first demonstration of the antitumor action of .beta.-carotene in mice inoculated with an oncogenic virus.

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