ANTITUMOR-ACTIVITY OF A FUNGAL GLUCAN TYLOPILAN AND PROPIONIBACTERIUM-ACNES PREPARATION

The study evaluated the antitumor activity of tylopilan, a beta - (1-- >3) (1-->6) linked glucan isolated from fruiting bodies of Tylopilus f elleus (Bull.: Fr.) P. Karst. (Boletaceae), and Propionibacterium acne s (P.a.) preparation. The antitumor effect of tylopilan and P.a. used alone or in combination was studied in NMRI mice inoculated i.p. with 10(6) 180-TG Crocker tumor cells. All experiments were based on a pret reatment with tylopilan and/or P.a. 5 days and/or 2 h before tumor cel l inoculation. Mean survival time (MST) of tumor - bearing mice was si gnificantly prolonged in comparison to control mice by a single inject ion of tylopilan (25 mu/mouse or 50 mu g/mouse) or P.a. (1 mg/mouse). MST was 23.6; 22.8 days in the tylopilan injected mice and 17.5 in the control animals. Tylopilan injected in conjunction with P.a. prolonge d significantly MST in comparison to control mice as well as to tylopi lan alone treated mice. We have found that P.a. which stimulate immune response enhanced significantly antitumor activity of tylopilan. The cytotoxicity of tylopilan at concentrations of 300, 150, 75 and 37.5 m u g/ml towards 180-TG Crocker cells in vitro studies was evaluated. Al l examined tylopilan concentrations showed cytotoxic activity.