A water-soluble aminated beta 1-3D-glucan derivative causes regression of solid tumors in mice.

Meth A sarcoma, when inoculated in the skin, grew progressively in hybrid CB6 F1(Balb/c X C57B1/6) mice. When water-soluble aminated beta 1-3D-glucan (AG) was injected intravenously or intraperitoneally on day 7 of tumor growth, the tumors underwent complete regression. When the injection was performed on day 3 there was regression of tumors in only about half of the cases. When the injection was performed on day 14 there was no apparent effect on tumor growth. Tumors in thymectonized animals did not appear to respond to treatment with AG on day 7. The relatively simple chemistry and low toxicity of AG, together with its solubility in biological fluids, makes it a promising tool in experimental--and possibly clinical--tumor therapy.