Evolution of sarcoma 180 (ascitic tumor) in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Fausto Edmundo Lima Pereira, Pedro Raso, Paulo Marcos Zech Coelho
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 1986
• Subjects: Esquistossomose experimental; Sarcoma 180; Esquistossomose e Câncer; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86821986000100009; https://doaj.org/article/0396de3b8dce4bedbc05b8132160b9c0

Mice infected with 60 cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni were more resistant to the sarcoma 180 ascites tumor. Tumor inoculation was performed 50 days after schistosoma infection and the animals were observed and weighed at 48 hours intervals for development and progression of malignancy. In infected mice the weight gain (ascites formation) started later and was shorter than in uninfected Controls. Also, the number of tumor cells into the peritoneal cavity 72h after tumor implantation was shorter in infected group than incontrols. This in creased resistance against a transplantable tumor probably is related to the effect of endotoxin on tumoricidal activity of macrophages activated by the infection. The immunodepression induced by Schistosoma mansoni infection enhances the proliferation of endogenous bacteria increasing the amount of endotoxin absorbed from the gut.