Tuftsin increases survival in murine peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Tuftsin increases macrophage superoxide anion generation as well as chemotactic, phagocytic, and secretory activities. The antitumor effect of tuftsin is mediated through the increased cytotoxic properties of primed macrophages. Peritoneal carcinomatosis presents a tumor model where the antineoplastic activation of peritoneal macrophages can be studied. Tuftsin given by intraperitoneal injection into Balb/C mice with peritoneal carcinomatosis demonstrated significant improvement in survival rates of treated mice over controls. Superoxide generation by peritoneal macrophages was increased by tuftsin; however, after progressive tumor growth, there was a reduction in the amount of superoxide produced. In the group treated with carrageenan, the survival rate was lower than in controls. The superoxide generation was increased by carrageenan, but to lower levels than by tuftsin. The assay of superoxide generation by macrophages by itself cannot be used as a measure of tumor cytotoxicity induced by tuftsin.