Evaluation of the Effect of the Betaleukine Radiomodificator on Exposed Lewis Carcinoma Growth in Mice

Four series of experiments on C57Bl/6 mice were conducted involving local irradiation (20 Gy) of transplanted Lewis carcinoma and administration of the betaleukine radiomodificator (recombinant human interleukine-1β) 24 h before and immediately after the exposure. The criteria determining the effect of betaleukine on carcinoma growth were the delay of growth after exposure and the growth rate after the effect was restored compared with the corresponding characteristics in the intact and exposed controls. The administration of betaleukine did not lead to a shortening of growth delay nor to an increased growth rate. In one series of experiments, however, growth delay was significantly prolonged, while the growth rate tended to decrease. In the same experiment, the carcinoma growth rate in the intact control was the lowest among all other mice. It was concluded that the model of transplantation tumor in mice is promising for assessing the applicability of radioprotective substances in chemoradiation therapy.