Tilorone-Mediated Protection against Murine B16 Melanoma

Abstract

C57B1/6 mice injected subcutaneously with B16 melanoma cells and treated intraperitoneally with 1 mg tilorone daily following tumor challenge demonstrated a reduction in tumor incidence and prolongation of survival in comparison with controls. While tilorone exhibited nonselective toxicity for B16 cells in vitro, it also induced macrophage-mediated inhibition of B16 tumor cell growth in culture. Thus, both cytotoxic effects and enhanced macrophage functions appear to have contributed to the reduced B16 melanoma growth observed here in tilorone-treated animals.