DOXORUBICIN TREATMENT OF RABBIT RENAL VX-2 CARCINOMA - NEPHROTOXICITY, SERUM PARAMETERS AND WEIGHT

Serum electrolytes, creatinine, urea, protein, albumin, bilirubin and glucose were examined every 4 days until time of death in rabbits with VX-2 carcinoma implanted in one kidney. The rabbits were treated with doxorubicin, nephrectomy or combinations thereof and observed for up to 1 year. Rabbits treated with doxorubicin only showed a slight creat inine rise initially, but over time creatinine reached almost the same concentration as that in nephrectomized rabbits receiving equivalent doses of doxorubicin. Creatinine concentrations increased significantl y above the normal range following nephrectomy combined with doxorubic in. Doxorubicin nephrotoxicity in rabbits occurs at lower doses than p reviously reported. In all rabbits the parameters except creatinine re mained stable within the established normal ranges, except for the las t 4 days before time of death in the animals with metastatic disease. Weight loss was the best parameter for making a prognosis for an indiv idual rabbit, since peak weight was noted 16-20 days before death. In experimental work with VX-2 carcinoma, weight is thus the most importa nt indicator of the time at which rabbits not responding to treatment can be put to death to avoid unnecessary suffering before the end of t he experiment.