[Antitumor and immunological activities of oxalysine].

OBJECTIVE

To study the antitumor and immunological activities of oxalysine (OXL).

METHODS

Growth of mouse ascites hepatoma-22 (H-22) cells and splenocyte proliferation were investigated in vitro by MTT colorimetric assay.

RESULTS

Suppression of OXL (6.3-200 micrograms/ml) on H-22 cell growth was weaker when used singly. But a marked synergetic inhibition was observed when OXL was used in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), with suppression percentage on hepatoma growth increased to 43.1% from 13.8% (25 micrograms/ml of OXL alone) or 18.9% (3.1 micrograms/ml of 5-Fu alone). OXL (6.3-100 micrograms/ml) in vitro produced an inhibitory action on splenocyte proliferation induced by concanvilian A (Con A, 5 micrograms/ml) in the normal mice, but was able to enhance obviously the proliferative response in mice bearing H-22.

CONCLUSION

OXL inhibits H-22 cell growth. The immunoregulatory action of OXL may contribute to its antihepatoma activity.