Inhibitory effects of Candida albicans extracellular polysaccharides on mouse sarcoma 180.

Extracellular glycoprotein produced by Candida albicans in chemically defined medium was used to treat solid Sarcoma 180 tumor cells implanted subcutaneously in Swiss female mice. Neither toxicity nor skin ulcerations surrounding the tumors was observed. Significant tumor inhibition was obtained using different methods to evaluate treatment effectiveness. Comparison of tumor weights after a single treatment (400 mg/kg, ip) on various days after transplantation indicated significant inhibition with a 10--80% regression rate. Multiple doses (800--2,000 mg/kg, ip) regressed 60--90% of all tumors. Subsequent dosage experiments showed an increase percentage of survivors for all treated groups and a significant decrease in tumor size. Studies of the glycoprotein material indicated that it was immunologically active.