Boric acid enhances in vivo Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell proliferation in Swiss albino mice

The influence of boric acid. a boron carrier, on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cell-bearing mice was investigated in view of its importance in the b oron neutron capture therapy and the influence of boron on proliferation an d progression of cancer cells mediated by proteoglycans and collagen. The p resent study included the evaluation of boric acid for the effects on total count and viability of EAC cells in addition to their non-protein sulfhydr yls (NP-SH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents as parameters for conjugativ e detoxication potency and possible oxidative damage. The EAC cell-bearing animals were also observed for the effect on survival, body weight changes, and histopathological evaluation of the tumors grown at the site of inocul ation. The treatment with boric acid significantly increased the total numb er of peritoneal EAC cells and their viability. A significant increase in t he body weight was observed that dose-dependently reached plateau levels by 20 days of treatment. Conversely. a reduction in the duration of survival of these animals was evident with the same protocol. Boric acid treatment r esulted in a decrease in NP-SH contents with a concomitant increase in MDA levels in EAC cells as revealed by the results of the biochemical analysis. These data are supported by our results on histopathological investigation s. which apparently showed fast growth. in addition to several mitotic figu res and mixed inflammatory reaction, after treatment with boric acid. It se ems likely that a particular combination of properties of boric acid. rathe r than a single characteristic alone, will provide useful information on th e use of this boron carrier in neutron capture therapy. (C) 2001 Elsevier S cience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.