Parallel antitumor, granuloma-forming and tumor-necrosis-factor-priming activities of mycoloyl glycolipids fromNocardia rubra that differ in carbohydrate moiety: Structure—activity relationships

Multiple intravenous injections (30 µg, ten times) in ICR mice of trehalose dimycolate and glucose monomycolate fromNocardia rubra, containing C36–48 mycolic acids, showed a prominent antitumor effect on a subcutaneously implanted sarcoma-180, an allogeneic sarcoma of mice with a significant granuloma formation in lungs, spleen and liver. On the other hand, mycoloyl glycolipids other than glucose monomycolate and trehalose dimycolate, such as mannose or fructose mycolate, showed no significant activity for tumor regression or granuloma formation in mice.