Age-dependent antileukemic action and suppression of immune response by 1,4-benzoquinone-guanylhydrazone-thiosemicarbazone (ambazone) in mice.
The antineoplastic activity of 1,4-benzoquinone-guanylhydrazone-thiosemicarbazone (ambazone) against murine leukemia P388 was found to be markedly reduced in 12- and 18-month-old mice as compared to young animals. The immune response against sheep red blood cells (SRBC), a T cell-dependent antigen, was also strongly diminished in tumor-free old mice and was further suppressed after ambazone treatment. Since the antileukemic effect of ambazone disappeared more or less in congenitally athymic nude mice, in neonatally thymectomized or silica-pretreated animals, it has been concluded that the action of the compound seems to be limited to young adult immunocompetent tumor-bearing hosts. Therefore immunosenescence, primarily of T cell functions of old tumor-bearers, may represent a decisive factor influencing the antileukemic, especially curative effect of ambazone in aged animals. A combined treatment with ambazone and immunomodulators (thymalin or a splenopentin derivative) failed to improve the antileukemic effect in young and old leukemia P388-bearing mice.
Central Institute of Microbiology and Experimental Therapy, Academy of Sciences, Jena, GDR.
J
J
Baumgart
H G
HG
Wisniewski
R
R
Amlacher
N V
NV
Zhukovskaya
E
E
Rentz
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D007107:Immune System / Q000254:growth & development*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007941:Leukemia P388 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008935:Mitoguazone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013946:Thymopoietins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013946:Thymopoietins; D013951:Thymus Hormones; D014020:Tissue Extracts; C041898:splenopentin; C032805:thymalin; C037931:1,4-benzoquinone guanylhydrazone thiosemicarbazone; D008935:Mitoguazone