Trichinella spiralis Larval Extract as a Biological Anti‐Tumor Therapy in a Murine Model of Ehrlich Solid Carcinoma

Abstract

Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) is an immunomodulating parasite that can adversely affect tumor growth and extend host lifespan. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms by which T. spiralis larval antigens achieve this effect using Ehrlich solid carcinoma (ESC) murine model. Assessment was done by histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of caspase‐3, TNF‐α, Ki‐67 and CD31. Additionally, Bcl2 and Bcl2‐associated protein X (Bax) relative gene expression was assessed by molecular analysis for studying the effect of T. spiralis crude larval extract (CLE) antigen on tumor necrosis, apoptosis, cell proliferation and angiogenesis. We found that both T. spiralis infection and CLE caused a decrease in the areas of necrosis in ESC. Moreover, they led to increased apoptosis through activation of caspase‐3, up‐regulation of pro‐apoptotic gene, Bax and down‐regulation of anti‐apoptotic gene, Bcl2. Also, T. spiralis infection and CLE diminished ESC proliferation, as evidenced by decreasing Ki‐67. T. spiralis infection and CLE were able to suppress the development of ESC by inhibiting tumor proliferation, inducing apoptosis and decreasing tumor necrosis, with subsequent decrease in tumor metastasis. T. spiralis CLE antigen may be considered as a promising complementary immunotherapeutic agent in the treatment of cancer.