ANTITUMOR EFFECTS OF PIRARUBICIN AND EPIRUBICIN IN COMBINATION WITH DOXIFLURIDINE AND CISPLATIN AGAINST MOUSE P388 LEUKEMIA

In vivo antitumor activity of pirarubicin (THP) and epirubucin (EPI) i n combination with doxifluridine (5'-DFUR) and cisplatin (CDDP) were e xamined using mouse P388 leukemia. THP (1.25-7.5 mg/kg) or EPI (1.25-1 5 mg/kg) was given intravenously on day 1, and then 5'-DFUR (125 or 25 0 mg/kg/day) and CDDP (4 mg/kg) were given orally on days 1-4 and intr avenously on day 5 after tumor inoculation, respectively. Both THP and EPI enhanced the antitumor activity of a combination of 5'-DFUR and C DDP. The enhancement by THP was additive or synergistic, while that by EPI was additive. Cured animals were observed in the combination of T HP with the two drugs, but not in that of EPI. Thus, in combination wi th 5'-DFUR and CDDP, THP was more effective against P388 leukemia than was EPI. The combination therapy using THP, 5'-DFUR and CDDP may be a novel chemotherapeutic approach to a variable type of tumors in clini cal trials.