title: Protective effects of water-soluble low-molecular-weight beta-(1,3-1,6)d-glucan purified from Aureobasidium pullulans GM-NH-1A1 against UFT toxicity in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  5-Fluorouracil and its derivatives are widely used in the treatment of a variety of tumours. However, their use is associated with gastrointestinal toxicity, myelotoxicity and immune toxicity. In this study, we examined the protective effects of low-molecular-weight beta-glucan isolated from Aureobasidium pullulans GM-NH-1A1 against toxicity of UFT (combination of tegafur (1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil) and uracil) in mice bearing colon 26 tumours.
  
  
  METHODS
  UFT was administered orally at 50 mg/kg once daily for 14 days alone or with orally administered low-molecular-weight beta-glucan, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg twice daily.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tumour growth was inhibited equally in all treatment groups. Onset of diarrhoea, which started on day 9 of UFT administration, was delayed by concomitant administration of the beta-glucan (50 and 100 mg/kg twice daily). Histological analysis showed that damage to small-intestine villi by UFT was inhibited by the orally administered beta-glucan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral administration of low-molecular-weight beta-glucan prevents gastrointestinal mucositis associated with UFT therapy without interfering with its anti-tumour activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Research, Division of Biochemical Pharmacology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicicne, Shitsukawa, Toon City, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Maho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sumiyoshi
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008970:Molecular Weight; D052016:Mucositis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014498:Uracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D047071:beta-Glucans; D005641:Tegafur; C064197:beta-1,6-glucan; D014498:Uracil