Influence of various hexoses and vasoactive agents on osmotically induced oncolysis.

Local destruction of malignant growths was achieved rapidly by creating around their cells a strongly hypertonic environment. Various hexoses, injected in and around tumors at 37 degrees, were utilized to produce the osmotic disturbance. Homeostatic correction of the osmotic disturbance was prevented by local ischemia, induced by vasoconstriction, and maintained soon afterwards by thrombosis. Of the few vasoactive agents tested for this purpose, serotonin was the safest and most effective. It worked better when mixed with the hexose than when injected separately s.c. at a distance. The best response to treatment was obtained from tumors which were unattached to deep structures, poorly vascularized, and resistant to an increase of internal pressure, whereas special precautions had to be taken with friable neoplasms to avoid dissemination of metastases. Under certain conditions, by causing acute tumor necrosis, a single treatment achieved a high ratio of cure; in which a favorable immune response to dramatic reduction of tumor burden and to resorbed lysed material perhaps played a part.