Abstract: The effectiveness of interferon for treatment against cancer may be increased by first administering an agent for inhibiting tyrosinase. In this manner the tyrosinase which is known to be produced by malignancies, and which may cause inactivation of the interferon, will be substantially inactivated prior to the interferon administration.

Abstract: Mandelonitrile-.beta.-D-glucuronic acid is produced by condensing a mandelic amide with a tri-O-acetyl methyl ester of glucuronic acid and then reacting the product with acetic anhydride to produce the tri-O-acetyl methyl ester of mandelonitrile-.beta.-D-glucuronic acid. The protecting acetyl groups may be removed and the barium salt formed by reacting with barium hydroxide, which salt, when treated with sulfuric acid, will yield the mandelonitrile-.beta.-D-glucuronic acid. This compound, as well as methacrylonitrile .beta.-D-glucuronic acid may be used in the treatment of bacterial infections having .beta.-glucuronidase activity.

Abstract: Hyperacidified tumors having high .beta.-glucuronidase activity can be treated with glucuronides with aglycones toxic to the tumor cells with great safety toward the rest of the body by first administering an alkalinizing agent in an amount sufficient to maintain the pH level of non-tumor tissues at approximately 7.4 during the glucuronide treatment. This will cause inactivation of .beta.-glucuronidase activity in the rest of the body. When nitrile-containing aglycones are used sodium thiosulfate is also administered to avoid cyanide poisoning. Novel glucuronides are disclosed the aglycones of which exert a higher toxic effect in an acid environment or are water-soluble only in an alkaline environment. Such compounds have particular utility with the above process. By substituting radioisotopes into the aglycone, diagnosis and in situ radiation therapy may be accomplished. Bacterial cells having .beta.-glucuronidase activity may also be diagnosed and treated in accordance with the present invention.