1628 



Schmeer, M. R. 1966. 



Mercenene: Cytopathologic effects on Krebs-2 carcinoma in CF 1 mice, HeLa (Atl) 

 and human amnion (FL) cell lines. Cancer Chemother. Rept. 50(9): 655-658. 



Krebs-2 tumors, implanted as a solid carcinoma in CF 1 inbred mice, were 

 treated with a water extract of fresh, raw Mercenaria including fluid inside 

 the valve. Injections of mercenene were made subcutaneously (sc) once a day 

 for 7 days. Eight days after initial treatment, antitumor agent caused 3- to 

 4-fold regression of tumor in treated animals as compared with controls. At 

 least 80% of treated mice taken at random for longevity studies had no 

 observable tumor at the implantation site by the 21st to 28th day, while all 

 control animals were dead by 28 days. Six months later, cytologic study of 

 treated animals confirmed the absence of tumor cells. In vitro studies with 

 HeLa (Atl) and human amnion (FL) cells showed cytotoxicity in HeLa cell 

 cultures but no toxicity in the amnion line. - modified author's abstract - 

 J.L.M. 



1629 



Schmeer, Sister Arline Catherine (formerly published as M. R. Schmeer) . 1968. 



Mercenene clam extract: effects on the population kinetics of an experimental 

 carcinoma and a non-neoplastic tissue. Biol. Bull. 135(2): 434-435. 



Mice with 4-day-old Krebs-2 solid carcinoma were given 7 daily injections of 

 mercenene. Experimental and control animals were sacrificed 24 hrs after each 

 daily injection of clam extract, so that the last groups killed had received 

 7 doses and had 11-day-old tumors. Examination led to the conclusion that 

 mercenene, under the conditions of the experiment, has no effect on kinetics 

 of the progenitor compartment of duodenum (a non-neoplastic tissue) of tumor- 

 bearing mice. Clam extract does act as an oncolytic agent against cells of 

 Krebs-2 carcinoma by preventing cells from entering the DNA synthetic period. 

 The extract was non-toxic to amnion cells. It is extremely significant to 

 have an anticancer agent that is selective in killing only neoplastic cells 

 in vitro and in vivo. - J.L.M. 



1630 



Schmeer, Sister Arline C. 1969. 



Mercenene: an antineoplastic agent extracted from the marine clam Mercenaria 

 mercenaria. In Neoplasms and Related Disorders of Invertebrate and Lower 

 Vertebrate Animals. Natl. Cancer Inst., Monog. 31. Govt. Print. Off., 

 Washington, D.C.: 581-5 91. 



An anti-cancer agent, mercenene, is present in mollusks, especially in 

 Mercenaria mercenaria. Mercenene may be ingested by the clam and then may 

 be extracted readily through the extraction process. Another possibility is 

 that some food material undergoes a change in vivo, giving an active anti- 

 cancer principle. The source is not known. Crude aqueous extracts of 

 mercenene were administered to cancerous mice for 7 days. Six months later 

 the mice were killed and examined for tumors and tumor cells. Mercenene was 

 never toxic. Young scar tissue was seen, but no tumor cells persisted. 

 These mice had produced normal offspring, while controls died in 21-28 days. 

 Clam tissues with most promising tumor-inhibiting activity were the crystal 

 body (crystalline style ?) and liver. Chemical composition of mercenene has 

 not been determined. - J.L.M. 



1631 



Schmeer, M. Rosarii, and Grace Beery. 1965. 



Mercenene: A preliminary investigation of the cytological effects of this 

 anti-tumor agent extracted from Mercenaria mercenaria on the Krebs-2 

 carcinoma. Biol. Bull. 129(2): 420. 



Mercenene, a growth-inhibitor extracted from edible molluscs, and in 

 particular the quahog, Mercenaria mercenaria, has been studied in vivo and 

 in vitro for the cytological effects it produces on the solid Krebs-2 

 carcinoma tumor (K-2) in CF1 mice and monolayer cultures of HeLa and normal 



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