Figure 1.

Human α-lactalbumin made lethal to tumour cells (HAMLET) treatment reduces intestinal tumour progression and increases survival. (A) Apc^Min/+ mice were treated orally with 10 mg of HAMLET, twice daily for 10 days. The mice were killed 5 weeks after the end of treatment or observed for survival until 40 weeks of age. (B) Dissection photomicrographs of small intestinal segments showing tumours (arrowheads) in HAMLET-treated or control mice. (C) Methylene blue stained whole mounts of intestinal segments (arrowheads, tumours). (D) Haematoxylin and eosin stained intestinal Swiss roll sections showing smaller and fewer polyps in HAMLET-treated Apc^Min/+ mice than in controls. (E) Quantification of the therapeutic effect on tumour number and size. A significant reduction of intestinal tumour load (p<0.0001 for total tumour count) was seen in HAMLET-treated mice (n=10) compared with sham-treated mice (n=10) (two-way analysis of variance test). Error bars represent ±SEM. (F) Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. The end point was reached when mice were moribund or at 40 weeks. HAMLET-treated mice (n=15) showed improved survival compared with sham-treated mice (n=15). p=0.0103, log-rank (Mantel–Cox) test.