INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF COMBINED ADMINISTRATION OF 5-FU AND KRESTIN ON LIVER-CANCER KDH-8 IN WKA H RATS/

The effectiveness of the combined administration of 5-fluorouracil (5- FU) and Krestin (PSK) on experimentally induced liver cancer has not b een established. This study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of the combined administration of these drugs on tumor growth and metasta sis. Male inbred WKA/H strain rats were used. The drugs used were 5-FU and PSK, each dissolved in water and fed orally. The drugs were admin istered separately or concurrently in standardized cycles to the tumor -bearing animals. KDH-8 ascitic liver cancer cells were subcutaneously transplanted into WKA rats. The tumor growth inhibition rates of 5-FU and PSK were then determined. Eighteen days after subcutaneous transp lantation, turner growth in the combined administration group was sign ificantly inhibited compared to the control group and the Single treat ment groups (p <.05). In addition, a liver metastatic model was prepar ed by transplanting KDH-8 cells into the spleen. Then the metastatic i nhibitory effects of 5-FU and PSK were analyzed. At 14 days, the mean number of liver metastic nodules was approximately 63 in the control g roup. However, the combined-medicated group showed a much lower number of nodules (40), indicating that metastasis was significantly inhibit ed (p <.05).