Effect of M.bovis BCG and M.microti on sarcoma 180 growth in mice.

The antitumorous efficacy of the Czechoslovak BCG 725, Czechoslovak BCG 901, the Danish SAS maintained, the Japanese SAS and SH maintained BCG strain and the Czechoslovak OV 247 (M.microti) strain was studied. (SAS--original Sauton's medium with asparagine, SH--Sauton's medium with the asparagine replaced by enzymatic casein hydrolysate.) Ascitic Sa 180 cells were used as the experimental tumor and 800 mice as experimental animals. All the strains employed displayed an anticarcinogenic effect in a protective assay (immunization 8 weeks before inoculation of Sa 180 cells). In a therapeutic test (vaccine administered 24 hr after inoculation of Sa 180 cells and then at weekly intervals), Czechoslovak BCG 725 and Czechoslovak OV 247 were used and proved effective.