Further Studies on Anti-tumour Activity of Adenovirus Fibre Protein on Murine Sarcoma Tumours

Summary The present study demonstrates that subcutaneous injection of purified adenovirus 12 fibre protein (FP) to 4-week-old Balb/c mice, 4, 2 and 1 day(s) before intramuscular injection of murine sarcoma virus (MSV-M) or 2 and 1 day before and 1 day after MSV-M injection causes significant inhibition of tumour growth (P < 0.001). The evidence suggests that treatment with FP leading to tumour inhibition is due to neither an interferon mechanism nor to inhibition of virus multiplication by FP in the reticuloendothelial system. It is postulated that immune functions, probably directed against MSV-induced cell antigens, might be the critical mechanisms underlying inhibition of tumour growth.