title: Immunopotentiation of anticancer chemotherapy by Candida albicans, other yeasts and insoluble glucan in an experimental lymphoma model.
abstract: Several yeast species in the genera Candida, Saccharomyces and Cryptococcus showed powerful immunoadjuvant, chemotherapy-synergic effects against a histocompatible, virus-induced murine lymphoma. Sensitizing and booster intraperitoneal injections of 2 x 10(7) yeast cells on days -14 and +1 (with respect to tumor challenge on day 0) followed by treatment with antiblastic drugs (on day +5) were required to elicit optimum activity. The antitumor effect was not markedly influenced by the morphological growth form of merthiolate-inactivated C. albicans nor by the nature of the carbon source in the growth medium, except for C. albicans cells grown in a medium containing stearic acid, which were not effective. These cells had a higher ratio of soluble to insoluble cell wall components, as compared to glucose-grown cells, but this finding alone could hardly explain the lack of antitumor effects. Previous observations, suggesting that the alkali-acid insoluble beta-glucan (in the form of cell wall ghosts) is the only component of yeast cell walls endowed with antitumor activity comparable to that of whole cells, were confirmed and extended; the soluble mannan and glucan-protein fractions were unable to replace whole cells and glucan ghosts even as sensitizers or as boosting agents.
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002330:Carmustine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000032:analysis; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000276:immunology; D003470:Culture Media; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005936:Glucans / Q000276:immunology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000628:therapy; D012440:Saccharomyces; D015003:Yeasts / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D005936:Glucans; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002330:Carmustine