Abstract:
Acute bacterial infection has been known to induce
regression in solid malignant tumors. This study aimed to
determine if Clostridium sporogenes possessed antitumor
activity against HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma
xenografts. Endospores numbering approximately 10°
suspended in 0.1 mL of phosphate-buffered saline solution
were injected intratumorally into tumors grown for 5 days
in Cyclosporine-i ysuppressed female BALB/c mice.
Tumor volume was measured using a ruler once daily for 3
days. An untreated tumor, and tumors treated for 24, 48,
and 72 hours were excised, cut into serial cross-sections,
and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) for
histopathological analysis. The results revealed that the
introduction of C. sporogenes caused a decrease in the
volume of HT29 tumors by at least 50% and at most
83.33% daily, for 3 days. The control tumor contained
numerous tumor cell nests while the tumor treated for 24
hours contained no tumor cells and exhibited a high degree
of acute inflammation induced by the presence of
C. sporogenes. The tumors treated for 48 and 72 hours
exhibited signs of repair and considerably _ less
inflammation. The inflammatory response could be the
reason for the observed antitumor activity of
C. sporogenes.
