Abstract
The antitumor effect of G IV-A (fucoidan) and/or 5-FU was examined in an experimental model of lung metastases induced by Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) or Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in mice. Combination treatment with G IV-A and 5-FU incresased significantly antitumor activity. In the group receiving G IV-A, the percentages of splenic Thyl. 2-, L3T4- and asialo GM1-positive cells were significantly increased as compared with the tumor-bearing mice treated with saline. Furthermore, the L3T4+/Lyt2+ ratio showed a tendency to increase, and the Lyt2+/Thy1.2+ ratio was decreased. These results suggest that the antitumor effect of G IV-A may be correlated with the changing pattern of the Thy1.2-, L3T4- and asialo GM1-positive cells, the third component of complement C3 activation, and macrophage activation.
