Response of mouse Lewis lung carcinoma to variation in dietary retinyl esters

Abstract

The effect of manipulating dietary concentrations of retinyl acetate or retinyl palmitate on the growth of subcutaneous murine Lewis lung carcinoma was studied. Both deficiencies and excesses of vitamin A resulted in slowed tumor growth. An optimal intermediate level of dietary vitamin A for solid tumor growth was established. Although previous studies have suggested that established subcutaneous Lewis tumors were responsive to various forms of chemotherapy, a significant increase in the efficacy of BGNU therapy was observed when drug treatment was coupled with either deficient or excessive amounts of dietary retinyl esters.