EFFECTS OF NEOCARZINOSTATIN UPON THE DEVELOPMENT OF TUMORS FROM MURINE NEUROBLASTOMA-CELLS

The use of differentiation-inducing agents has been proposed for the p urging of bone marrow and for the treatment of minimal residual diseas e prior to autologous bone marrow transplantation in patients with met astatic neuroblastoma. The present studies examine the effects of the enediyne differentiation inducer neocarzinostatin (NCS) on tumor devel opment from subcutaneous implants of murine (Neuro-2A) neuroblastoma c ells. Prior in vitro treatment with NCS results in a concentration- an d drug exposure time-dependent decrease in the incidence of tumors fro m subcutaneously implanted cells. In vivo treatment results in a dose- dependent decrease in the rate of tumor growth. These results imply th at enediynes such as NCS may be useful in ex vivo purging regimens and in in vivo treatment of microscopic residual disease in patients with neuroblastoma.