[Effect of biological response modifier sulfoethylated (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glycan on the experimental leukemia in mice]

Sulfoethylated (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glycan (SE-glycan) is a well-known biological response modifier, which activates the immune system via the influence on macrophages and lymphocytes. In these experiments, SE-glycan suppressed the growth of solid transplants of leukemias P-388 and L1210/1 in mice and, when combined with cyclophosphamide, significantly potentiated its action. The administration of SE-glycan allowed the cyclophosphamide dose to be reduced by half without negatively influencing the curative effect. The proposed treatment also led to an increase in the activity of lysosomal proteases (cathepsins B, L and D) in tumor tissues. The extent of changes was in direct relation to the therapeutic effect.