Antitumor effect of a copper coordination compound with superoxide dismutase-like activity.

Growth of Ehrlich carcinomas in inbred CBA mice was retarded by im administration of Cu(II)(3,5-diisopropylsalicylate)2 (CuDIPS). CuDIPS is a low molecular weight (mol wt = 503) copper coordination compound that exhibits superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity. It has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent and is lipid-soluble. This property enables the compound to penetrate membranes, thus becoming an intracellular O2- scavenger. In the tumor system studied, the amounts of both copper- and zinc-containing SOD (CuZnSOD) and manganese-containing SOD are reduced. Injection of Orgotein (CuZnSOD from bovine liver) had no significant effect on tumor growth and host survival. When CuDIPS was administered at various doses, reduction in tumor size, delay of metastasis, and a significant increase in survival of the hosts were observed.