title: Role of soluble β-(1-3),(1-6)-D-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the murine P388 ascites tumor model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Therapeutic options for the treatment of malignant ascites are limited and could be broadened by immune-stimulatory drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Soluble β-(1-3),(1-6)-D-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was administered i.p. into DBA/2-mice bearing the P388 lymphoma either freshly inoculated or as an established ascites-tumor. Its effect on survival, ascites volume and production of cytokines was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The early, but not the later, administration of β-glucan showed a tendency to induce interleukin (IL)-12 in the ascites, whereas both treatment schedules demonstrated a clear tendency to reduce production of interferon-γ in the abdominal fluid and had no notable impact on the level of tumor necrosis factor-α. Treatment with β-glucan at either time-point showed no effect on the ascites volume and mean survival time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  β-(1-3), (1-6)-D-Glucan shows weak and differential modulation of immune-stimulatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines in tumor ascites dependent on the stage of tumor growth without affecting survival of the mice.
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic of Oncology and Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Harnack
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pecher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005936:Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005936:Glucans; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C033671:epiglucan; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma