Therapeutic Effect of Hydatid Cyst Liquid on Melanoma Tumor Growth in Mouse Model

Introduction: Hydatid cyst is the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus which develops in various human and livestock animals tissues. This hydatid cyst composed of several layers. Previous investigations have shown that the prevalence of hydatid cyst in cancer patients is significantly lower than in healthy individuals. In animal models preventive effect of the hydatid cyst antigens in reduction of tumor growth has been shown. Due to the effect of live protosculex and hydatid cyst antigens on reducing the growth of cancer cells in culture medium, in this study therapeutic effect of hydatid cyst liquid on the growth of melanoma tumor in mice (C57 black) has been investigated.

Methods: In this Experimental study, the population studies were C57 black mice. Six groups of mice were injected with 106 melanoma cells in their chest site subcutaneously. Then the mice were injected with hydatid cyst fluid either with or without albendazole. From the second week, the tumor size was measured using a calipers and tumor area was calculated and the mean tumor area compared with those of control groups using One-way ANOVA test.

Results: The mean tumor area, in groups which injected with hydatid cyst fluid (case groups), was less than the mean tumor area in the control groups and this difference was statistically significant.

Conclusion: This study showed that hydatid cyst fluid may have therapeutic effect on melanoma cancer growth.