Polysaccharides extracted from human tubercle bacilli (specific substance of Maruyama) reduces carcinogenesis in murine ulcerative colitis.

Polysaccharides extracted from human tubercle bacilli (specific substance of Maruyama) have been clinically applied in patients with malignant diseases in Japan and other countries. It is known that increased colorectal carcinogenesis occurs in patients with ulcerative colitis. The repeated mucosal necrosis-regeneration sequence in chronic ulcerative colitis induced with 3 % dextran sulfate sodium led to colorectal carcinogenesis in azoxymethane-pretreated mice. Simultaneously multiple injections with the polysaccharides reduced the increases in thymidylate synthase and thymidine kinase activities and a number of bromodeoxyuridine-incorporated S-phase cells in colorectal tissues resulted in the reduction of tumorous regions with high-grade dysplasia.