Open AccessEffect of PSK, a protein‐bound polysaccharide preparation, on liver tumors of Syrian hamsters induced by Thorotrast injection
Author(s) -
Shiga Junji,
Maruyama Takashi,
Takahashi Hisahide,
Irie Hiroshi,
Mori Takesaburo
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
acta patholigica japonica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
ISSN - 0001-6632
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1827.1993.tb01160.x
Subject(s) - thorotrast , syrian hamsters , pathology , polysaccharide , mesocricetus , chemistry , hamster , medicine , biochemistry
The contrast medium Thorotrast, an agent well known to be carcinogenic, was injected into 400 congeneic Syrian hamsters. The resulting incidence of malignant hepatic tumors such as cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and hemangiosarcoma, was significantly higher in the male experimental group than in the control group, and the 50% survival period in the male group was shortened by about 100 days (P < 0.01). However administration of the antitumor drug PSK (Polysaccharide Kureha), a protein bound‐polysaccharide extracted from basidiomycete fungi, prevented this carcinogenic effect. The incidence of malignant hepatic tumors in the experimental group was 22.5% compared with 2.8% in the control group (P < 0.01) and 10.5% in the PSK‐treated group (P < 0.01). PSK also increased the 50% survival period by 61 days (P < 0.01).