Antitumor polysaccharide-induced tumor-regressing factor in the serum of tumor-bearing mice: purification and characterization.

Marked tumor-regressing activity was induced in the serum of S180 tumor-bearing mice by injection of an antitumor polysaccharide, CM-TAK [carboxymethylated beta(1-3)glucan]. Maximal activity was induced 7-14 days after the tumor transplantation and 10-12 h after CM-TAK treatment. A quantitative assay for the activity was established on the basis of the initial decrease in the number of the tumor cells within 24 h. The factor with tumor-regressing activity was purified 10,000-fold by the series of hydroxylapatite chromatography, ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and boronate-mediated affinity chromatography. The molecular weight was estimated to be 250,000 by gel filtration. The activity was proteinase K sensitive, but relatively resistant to trypsin. Neuraminidase did not affect the activity. It is believed that the tumor-regressing factor is different from the tumor necrosis factor.