ANTITUMOR-ACTIVITY OF LOW-TOXICITY LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE OF BORDETELLA-PERTUSSIS

A lipopolysaccharide (BP-LPS) isolated from killed Bordetella pertussi s (Tohama strain) was determined to have low toxicity based on the mor tality and decrease in body weight of BP-LPS-injected mice. BP-LPS, ad ministered intradermally or intraperitoneally, clearly inhibited the g rowth of an MM46 murine mammary carcinoma. When compared with a toxic Escherichia coli-derived LPS, BP-LPS displayed excellent anti-tumour a ctivity against MH134 hepatoma and Meth A fibrosarcoma. As parr of a c ombined chemotherapy/immunotherapy regimen, BP-LPS also seemed to prol ong the lifespan of mice inoculated with Lewis lung carcinoma. BP-LPS thus appears to have valuable characteristics as an anti-tumour agent.