Enhanced antitumor effects with intralymphatic delivery using bacillus Calmette-Guerin in animal models.

This study compares the effectiveness of various routes of administration of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) utilizing the New Zealand white (NZW) rabbit V2 carcinoma model. The routes compared were intratumor, intravenous, scarification, subcutaneous, and intralymphatic. Primary tumor regression, disease-free interval, and survival were measured. The disease-free interval and survival for the intralymphatic group were significantly longer (p less than 0.05) than all groups except the scarification group. That group had a prolonged survival as compared with all groups except the intralymphatic group. The intralymphatic route of administration was the most effective method in causing local tumor regression and curtailing metastasis. This study clearly demonstrates that the intralymphatic route requires further mechanistic studies and clinical investigation as a means for delivering biological response modifiers.