Reticuloendothelial stimulation: levamisole compared.
OBJECTIVE
Levamisole in combination with 5-fluorouracil is an effective adjuvant for the treatment of resected Dukes stage C colon cancer. Since the mechanism of action of levamisole is not known, we have investigated its effects on hepatic and splenic reticuloendothelial system (RES) activity in the rat and compared the effect of levamisole with other known RES stimulators.


METHODS
The hepatic and splenic uptake of an intravenous dose of technetium-99m-sulfur colloid has been used to measure RES activity in rats treated with levamisole, glucan, zymosan, chlormethiazole, octreotide, and saline.


RESULTS
Levamisole significantly increased the hepatic uptake of technetium-99m-sulfur colloid and is comparable in its effect to the other RES stimulators. In contrast, levamisole has no effect on splenic RES activity.


CONCLUSIONS
RES function is considered to be a potentially important factor in the development of liver metastases, and the stimulatory effect of levamisole on the hepatic RES may partly explain its efficacy as an adjuvant treatment in colon cancer.
Davies
N
N
University Department of Surgery, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Kynaston
H
H
Yates
J
J
Nott
D M
DM
Jenkins
S A
SA
Taylor
B A
BA
D000818:Animals; D002719:Chlormethiazole / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D005936:Glucans / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007978:Levamisole / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015282:Octreotide / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid; D015054:Zymosan / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology
D005936:Glucans; D002719:Chlormethiazole; D007978:Levamisole; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid; D015054:Zymosan; D015282:Octreotide