PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - KEIJI HIROTA AU - YOSHINORI NAKAGAWA AU - RYOTA TAKEUCHI AU - YOSHIHIRO UTO AU - HITOSHI HORI AU - SHINYA ONIZUKA AU - HIROSHI TERADA TI - Antitumor Effect of Degalactosylated Gc-Globulin on Orthotopic Grafted Lung Cancer in Mice DP - 2013 Jul 01 TA - Anticancer Research PG - 2911--2915 VI - 33 IP - 7 4099 - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/33/7/2911.short 4100 - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/33/7/2911.full SO - Anticancer Res2013 Jul 01; 33 AB - Background: Group-specific component (Gc)-globulin-derived macrophage-activating factor (GcMAF) generated by a cascade of catalytic reactions with deglycosidase enzymes exerts antitumor activity. We hypothesized that degalactosyl Gc-globulin (DG3), a precursor of GcMAF, also plays a role in recovery from cancer as well as GcMAF due to progression of deglycosylation by generally resident sialidases and mannosidases. Materials and Methods: We prepared the subtypes of DG3, such as 1f1f and 1s1s and its 22 homodimers, by using vitamin D3-binding Sepharose CL-6B and examined their antitumor activity in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma cells, by counting the number of nodules formed in their lungs. Results: Antitumor activity of DG3 was observed regardless of its subtype, being equivalent to that of GcMAF. The injection route of DG3 affected its antitumor activity, with subcutaneous and intramuscular administration being more favorable than the intraperitoneal or intravenous route. In order to obtain significant antitumor activity, more than 160 ng/kg of DG3 were required. Conclusion: DG3 proved to be promising as an antitumor agent, similarly to GcMAF.