DISSOCIATION OF THERAPEUTIC AND TOXIC EFFECTS OF POLYINOSINIC-POLYCYTIDYLIC ACID ADMIXED WITH POLY-L-LYSINE AND SOLUBILIZED WITH CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE IN TUMOR-BEARING MICE

  • 1 March 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 46  (3) , 1331-1338
Abstract
In this paper, we describe a study of the therapeutic parameters (dose and schedule) and immunomodulatory activity (macrophage, natural killer cell, and T-cell number and function) of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid admixed with poly-L-lysine and solubilized with carboxymethyl cellulose [poly(I,C)-LC] in the treatment of MBL-2 tumor ascites. Tumor-bearing mice received an optimal therapeutic protocol [100 .mu.g poly(I,C)-LC administered twice a wk], a maximum tolerated dose [50 .mu.g poly(I,C)-LC administered daily], or the optimal immunomodulatory protocol for normal mice [10 .mu.g poly(I,C)-LC administered daily]. The percentage of tumor-associated macrophages and their cytotoxic activity correlated with host survival. In addition, splenic T-cell activity correlated with host survival, and splenic natural killer cell function has a near significant correlation with host survival. These results indicate that the optimal dose and schedule of poly(I,C)-LC for immunomodulation in tumor-bearing animals are also the optimal therapeutic protocol but have less toxicity than the maximum tolerated dose.