Summary
Studies from several centers have shown an immunosuppressive effect of surgical procedures, whilst others have shown blood transfusion in association with cancer surgery to have an adverse effect on ultimate prognosis. We have previously demonstrated enhanced growth of tumor metastases, in rats following allogeneic blood transfusion and surgery. Polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid (poly A-poly U) has been reported to stimulate immune responses. In this report, we have investigated the effectiveness of poly A-poly U as an adjuvant to blood transfusion and surgical procedures in BN rats bearing artificial lung metastases. Significantly reduced tumor growth was observed, following poly A-poly U adjuvant treatment. These results lead to serious contemplation of the use of this drug as adjuvant therapy in blood transfused and surgically treated patients.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bijma AM, Baan CC, Kort WJ, Marquet RL, Westbroek DL (1985) Effect of poly A-poly U on NK cell activity, interferon production and development of metastases in rats. Eur Surg Res 17:94–95
Bonadonna G, Valagussa P (1981) Dose response effect of adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. New Engl J Med 304:10–15
Braun M, Nakano M (1979) Antibody formation: stimulation by poly A-poly C. Science 157:819
Braun W, Ishizuka M, Yajima Y, Webb D, Winchurch (1971) Spectrum and mode of action of poly A-poly U in the stimulation of immune responses. Springer, New York, pp 139–156
Burrows L, Tartter P (1982) Effect of blood transfusions on colonic malignancy recurrence rate. Lancet 2:662
Cochran AJ, Spilg WGS, Mackie RM (1972) Post-operative depression of tumor directed cell mediated immunity in patients with malignant disease. Br Med J 4:67
Constantian MB, Menzorian JO, Nimberg RB, Schmid K Mannick JA (1977) Association of a circulating immunosuppressive polypeptide with operative and accidental trauma. Ann Surg 185:73–79
Ducret JP, Caille H, Garnier HS, Amiel JL, Michelson M, et al. (1985) A phase I clinical tolerance study of poly A-poly U in cancer patients. J Biol Response Mod 4:129–133
Francis D, Shenton B (1981) Blood transfusion and tumor growth: evidence from laboratory animals. Lancet 2:871
Hovanession AJ, Riviere Y, Montagnier L, Michelson M, Lacour J, Lacour F (1982) Enhancement of interferon mediated protein kinase on mouse and human plasma in response to treatment with poly A-poly U. J Interferon Res 2:209–215
Johnson AG (1979) Modulation of the immune system by synthetic polynucleoitides. Springer Semin Immunopathol 2:149–168
Lacour F, Spira A, Lacour J, Prade M (1972) Poly A-poly U, an adjuvant to surgery in the treatment of spontaneous mammary tumors in C3H/He mice and transplantable melanoma in the hamster. Cancer Res 32:648–649
Lacour J, Lacour F, Spira A, Michelson M, Petit JY, Delage G, Sarrazin D, Contesso G, Viguier J (1984) Adjuvant treatment with poly A-poly U in operable breast cancer: updated results of a randomised trial. Br Med J 288:589–592
Lovett EJ III, Lundy J (1976) Immunomodulating effects of thiabendazole on murine spleen cells. Fed Proc 35:532
Lundy J, Lovett III EJ, Wolinsky SM, Conran P (1979) Immune impairment and metastatic tumor growth. Cancer 43:945–951
Marquet RL, de Bruin RWF, Dallinga RJ, Singh SK, Jeekel J (1986) Modulation of tumor growth by allogeneic blood transfusion. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 111:50–53
Park SK, Brody JI, Wallace HA, Blakemore WS (1971) Immunosuppressive effect of surgery. Lancet 91:53–55
Rosenberg SA, Seipp CA, White DE, Wesley R (1985) Perioperative blood transfusions are associated with increased rate of recurrence and decreased survival in patients with high grade soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities. J Clin Oncol 3:698–709
Singh SK, Marquet RL, de Bruin RWF, Westbroek DL, Jeekel J (1987) Promotion of tumor growth by blood transfusions. Transplant Proc 19:1473–1474
Singh SK, Marquet RL, de Bruin RWF, Westbroek DL, Jeekel J Effect of surgery and blood transfusion on metastatic growth and immune parameters in a rat model (in press)
Slade MS, Simmons RL, Yunis E, Greenberg LJ (1975) Immunodepression after major surgery in normal patients. Surgery 78:3:363–372
Stratton JA, Byfield PE, Byfield JE, Benfield J, Small RC, Pilch Y (1975) A comparison of the acute effects of radiation therapy, including or excluding the thymus, on the lymphocyte subpopulations of cancer patients. J Clin Invest 56:88–97
Walton B (1979) Effects of anaesthesia and surgery on immune status. Br J Anaesth 51:37–43
Youn JK, Hovanessian AG, Riviere Y, Hue G, Lacour F (1983) Enhancement of NK cell activity and 2–5 A synthetase in mice treated with poly A-poly U. Cell Immunol 79:298–308
Youn JK, Kim BS, Min JS, Choi HJ, Lee YB, Lee DW et al. (1985) Adjuvant treatment with chemotherapeutic agents and poly A-poly U in operable stomach cancers. Yonsei Med J 26:1–7
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Singh, S.K., Marquet, R.L., Westbroek, D.L. et al. Abrogation of the tumor promoting effect of allogeneic blood transfusion by polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid (poly A-poly U). Cancer Immunol Immunother 25, 242–244 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00199153
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00199153