Foreign body sarcoma: effects of foreign DNA, beta-carotene and paprika applied to the implant surface.

Sarcoma arises extremely rarely on foreign bodies in man, but is aggressive and often lethal. A coating for implants which would further reduce the risk in man is desirable. The incidence in mice is much greater, and responds to chemical treatment of the implant surface. Coating with histones increases tumour yield. Accordingly, related substances, foreign DNA, DNase and a mixture of the two, were tested for anticancer activity by application to 25 mm nitrocellulose filters in groups of 30-45 BALB/c mice, in comparison with untreated filters. Other substances reported to influence neoplasia, paprika, beta-carotene, rhodamine and tuftsin; and substances expected to be neutral, oxyprenolol, liquid paraffin, iodine, and adenosine diphosphate were similarly tested against concurrent untreated controls for comparison. Bovine DNA (p = 0.01) and DNA/DNase mixture (p = 0.04) and DNase fomented tumour growth by 55, 45 and 59% respectively. Paprika and beta-carotene did so by 70% (p = 0.05). The other substances were inert. None were candidates for an anti-sarcoma coating.