[Cytological and immunological aspects of the antitumor action of polyhexamethylene guanidine in BALB/c mice].

Repeated intraperitoneal and intratumor administration of polyhexamethylene guanidine (PMG) in 3 and 5 mg/kg doses to sarcoma 180 bearing mice caused a significant reduction in tumour mass accompanied by increased incidence of diploid and hypodiploid cells. PMG brings about an increase in the number of activated macrophages in the spleen, whereas the response of antibody-producing cells (APC) varies with the dose. A single injection of PMG (1 mg/kg) caused stimulation, but under repeated administration and at higher doses the drug suppressed APC proliferation. The dose-dependent effects of PMG on humoral immunity was due to its specific influence on the spleen L-ornithine decarboxylase activity.