Antitoxic and chemosensitizing effects of bovine lactoferrin and muramyl dipeptide in Ehrlich solid tumor-bearing mice treated with cisplatin

Background: Despite the effectiveness of anti-cancer chemotherapy, it is associated with serious adverse side effects and the development of drug-resistance mechanisms. Immune dysfunction is considered one of the most serious adverse effects of anti-cancer chemotherapy, which increases the susceptibility of the patients to infection. Co-administration of immunomodulatory agents as adjuvant therapy with chemotherapy will result in better anti-tumor responses with fewer side effects. Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the ameliorative effects of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) and muramyl dipeptide (MDP) against toxicity induced by cisplatin in tumor-bearing mice. Materials and Methods: In this study, MDP or bLF was co-treated with cisplatin in mice bearing Ehrlich solid tumor (EST). Results: Co- treatment of cisplatin with MDP or bLF enhanced the anti-tumor effects of cisplatin to induce a reduction of the tumor size, proliferative capabilities of tumor cells accompanied by an elevation in the apoptotic profile of tumor cells. Moreover, co- treatments of Cisplatin with bLF or MDP reversed the Cisplatin-induced immune suppression and partially restored splenocyte proliferation, immune organ indices, hematological profile, liver and kidney functions, and histological structure. Conclusion: Both bLF and MDP were able to act as adjuvant therapy with anti-cancer chemotherapy through their abilities to enhance the chemotherapy curative effects, modulate the immune response against tumor cells, and to some extent ameliorate the adverse toxic effects of the chemotherapy.