Regression of Transplanted Lymphomas Induced in Vivo by Means of Normal Guinea Pig Serum

Abstract

In the experiments here described transplanted lymphomas of two kinds regularly regressed following repeated injections of normal guinea pig serum intraperitoneally into mice carrying them, the animals meanwhile remaining lively and devoid of signs of illness or wasting. The lymphomas of untreated control mice, by contrast, usually grew progressively and killed their hosts within 20 to 30 days, and the same was true of the growth of other mice given repeated injections of horse serum or rabbit serum. In similar experiments, the cells of a transplanted lymphosarcoma of rats were temporarily kept from proliferating by repeated intraperitoneal injections of guinea pig serum, though the cells of two transplanted mammary carcinomas of mice, and those of fibrosarcoma, grew unimpeded in hosts likewise treated. Additional experiments related to the phenomenon here described, and a discussion of the findings as a whole, are given in an associated paper.

Targeting cancer metabolism: a therapeutic window opens

“…The potential use of L--asparaginase to treat cancer was discovered when it was noted that guinea pig serum, but not that of other animals, had an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of lymphoma cells in mice 156 . Guinea pigs are relatively unique among mammals in having serum aspariginase activity 157 , which was found to be responsible for the anti--lymphoma effect in mice 55,158 .…”

Identification and Structural Analysis of an l-Asparaginase Enzyme from Guinea Pig with Putative Tumor Cell Killing Properties

“…In a seminal publication from 1953, John G. Kidd reported the unexpected observation that guinea pig serum has the ability to inhibit the growth of subcutaneous lymphomas transplanted into mice (1). It took a further 10 years before the serum ingredient responsible for this effect was revealed to be an enzyme with L-asparaginase activity (2).…”

Overview on L-Asparaginase

“…Vijayalakshmi et al, [14] reported the L-asparaginase producing species of Arthrobacter from mango orchards. Salini et al [75] isolated glutaminase free Lasparaginase producing endophytes from three mangrove species namely Rhizophora mucronata, Excoecaria agallocha, and Sonneratia caseolaris. The strains obtained were usually isolated by nutrient agar medium.…”