title: Muramyl dipeptides: prospect for cancer treatments and immunostimulation.
abstract: The immunopharmacological activities of bacterial cell walls and muramyl peptides were collected in table form with a comprehensive literature. The past and present studies emphasizing the host-defense enhancing activities of muramyl peptides for antitumor immunotherapy were surveyed along three possible approaches: 1) the nonspecific enhancement of natural defense ability of host against tumor cells themselves; 2) the enhancement of nonspecific resistance of host to microbial infections which are frequently encountered and difficult to treat in the advanced stage of tumor patients; and 3) the stimulation of immunity against tumor-specific or tumor-associated immunogens. Finally, the prospects of successful antitumor immunotherapy with muramyl peptides and their derivatives was discussed.
mesh_terms: D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000628:therapy; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine