Potentiation of the thymosin immunoregulatory effect by hypocorticoidism in rats with DMBA-induced carcinogenesis in mammary glands.

: Effect of adrenalectomy and or thymosin administration on the tumor growth and immunity system were investigated on the models of 7.12-dimethylbenza(a)anthracene(DMBA)-induced mammary neoplasms in rats. Adrenalectomy and thymosin administration resulted in antitumorigenic action, whereas maximal inhibiting effect was achieved after thymosin injection in adrenalectomized animals. The maximal antitumorigenic effect of thymosin in adrenalectomized rats was accompanied by synergistic immunopotentiating effect of thymosin and adrenalectomy. Immunorehabilitation with thymosin and simultaneous correction of hormone production in the adrenal cortex are believed to enhance the effectiveness of therapy in cancer patients.