Antitumor activity of bacteria and bacterial products: enhancement of the tumor-protective effect of bacteria by lipoteichoic acid.

ABSTRACT

The ability of some microbial agents and/or their products to affect local tumor growth was assessed in the D-12 DA rat ascites tumor model. Various bacteria and bacterial products markedly enhanced tumor resistance when injected i.p. several days before tumor cell challenge. The tumor-protective effect of these compounds was amplified further by lipoteichoic acid (LTA) inoculated i.p. a few days after tumor cell challenge. Under these conditions, the majority of animals did not exhibit progressive tumor growth.