Oncolysis by a New Strain of Clostridium Free

The oncolytic properties of a new Clostridium strain O1 originating from pig skin extracts have been studied. The specificity toward various animal tumors of a typical pig skin fraction, spore-containing punctates of lysing tumors, and pure spore suspensions proved to be comparable. Several different kinds of transplanted tumors can be destroyed. The activity against spontaneous or induced tumors is very low, however. The intoxication caused by the fast lysis makes the therapeutic result not ideal in most of these animal experiments; additional medication is necessary for a permanent cure. The crude pig skin fractions seem to contain protecting substances, making a permanent cure possible in isolated cases. The tumor growth inhibition caused by a sterile Clostridium culture filtrate constitutes evidence that the oncolysis may be mediated by a metabolic product of the microorganisms.