OF4949, new inhibitors of aminopeptidase B. V. Effect on the murine immune system.

OF4949-I inhibited the growth of the solid form of IMC carcinoma and protected against pulmonary metastases of Lewis lung carcinoma. It also augmented the cytostatic activity of mouse peritoneal macrophages, the natural killer activity, and the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of mouse spleen cells. This substance was not cytotoxic to cultured tumor or normal cells even at high concentrations. These results suggest that a cell-mediated immune response stimulated by this compound might account for its antitumor activity.