Fig. 10

Methylbenzoprim reduces melanoma growth in a SCID mouse model. Tumor growth features in SCID mice inoculated with the human melanoma cell line Mel501 and treated with vehicle alone or Pyr or MBP by oral gavage. Pyr (45 mg/kg/day) and MBP (12 mg/kg/day) treatments were started at the onset of the metastatic tumor (i.e. 5 d after melanoma cell injection). The dose of Pyr used to treat mice was chosen on the basis of previous in vivo studies [11, 24] whereas the dose of MBP was chosen considering both the results of in vitro and preliminary in vivo experiments. In (a) the mean tumor volume ± SD at different times after melanoma cell injection is reported. Note the significant values detected in comparison with animals treated with vehicle alone (*) = P < 0.05; (**) = P < 0.01. b Upper panels. Micrographs show the difference of tumor size between Pyr and MBP, compared with vehicle alone, when mice were sacrificed. Note, in particular, the significant reduction of tumor size observed with MBP compared vehicle alone. Bottom panels. Liver histologic features of mice treated with vehicle (left), Pyr (middle) and MBP (right). The liver architecture is well preserved. There is no evidence of hepatocyte necrosis or apoptosis, as compared to the control. Staining with Hematoxylin eosin, original magnification 20×