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Tumor-immunotherapeutic Efficacy of Serratia marcescens Polyribosomes¹

Animal Tumor Program, Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Science, UMC 56, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84321 [R. W. U.]; Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 [B. S. E.]; and Department of Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309 [W. S.]

The ability of polyribosomes, obtained from several bacterial species, to suppress the development of cutaneous SaD2 fibrosarcomas in DBA/2 mice was evaluated. Suppression of tumor appearance depended upon the tumor load at the time of treatment, dose of polyribosomes, and species source of polyribosomes, with Serratia marcescens being superior to Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycobacterium bovis (Pasteur), Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Propionibacterium acnes (formerly Corynebacterium parvum). A single injection of 5 or 50 µg of Serratia polyribosomes at the tumor site 72 hr after the intradermal administration of 1.5 x 10³ SaD2 cells resulted in 66 to 95% survival. All untreated animals expired within 50 days. Tumor suppression occurred at both flank and footpad sites. Presensitization with polyribosomes and incorporation of polyribosomes into adjuvant were not required for the tumor-suppressive effect. Treatment of Serratia polyribosomes with RNase or pronase reduced the number of survivors. Endotoxin was not detectable with the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay.

¹ Supported by American Cancer Society Grants IN-103B and IN-103C.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 11/18/79. Accepted 1/31/80.