Antitumor effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor in mice.

The effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) against tumor growth and on cellular immunity were studied in comparison with those of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). LPS and TNF, which were administered into mice with tumors, induced hemorrhagic necrosis within 48 hours after the initiation of the treatment. LPS and TNF significantly inhibited the tumor growth, as compared with findings in the controls. There was no significant difference in inhibitory effect on tumor growth between mice treated with LPS or TNF once or twice. Both LPS and TNF prevented the decrease of delayed type hypersensitivity in the tumor bearing mice.