Prolongation of the survival period with the biological response modifier PSK in rats bearing N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mammary gland tumors

In Vivo. 1995 Jan-Feb;9(1):55-7.

Abstract

The antitumor effects of a protein-bound polysaccharide (PSK) obtained from cultured mycelia of Coriolus versicolor in basidiomycetes on mammary gland tumors produced in Sprague-Dawley rats by the intravenous injection of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea were investigated. PSK prolonged the survival period of tumor-bearing rats significantly, when given at the dose of 250 mg/kg twice a week for 3 weeks after the tumor reached 100 mm2 in size (p = 0.011 by log rank test and p = 0.023 by generalized Wilcoxon test). These findings suggest that PSK is effective in the prolongation of the survival period in the rat autochthonous tumor model, acting at the growth stage of the tumor during carcinogenesis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Eating
  • Female
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / chemically induced
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Methylnitrosourea
  • Proteoglycans / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Survival Analysis
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • Proteoglycans
  • polysaccharide-K
  • Methylnitrosourea