ANTITUMOR EFFECT OF CPT-11, A CAMPTOTHECIN DERIVATIVE, ON HUMAN TESTICULAR-TUMOR XENOGRAFTS IN NUDE-MICE

Objective: The antitumor effect of CPT-11, a camptothecin derivative, on two human testicular embryonal carcinomas (TTSC-2 and TTSC-3) heter otransplanted into nude mice was studied. Materials and Methods: Tumor -bearing nude mice were given daily intraperitoneal injections of the anticancer drugs in 0.1 mi saline 3 times at 3-day intervals. At the e nd of the experiments tumors were resected and subjected to light-micr oscopic observation. Results: When 10, 30 and 50 mg/kg of CPT-11 was a dministered to tumor-bearing mice intraperitoneally, the antitumor eff ect of CPT-11 was observed dose-dependently in both TTSC-2 and TTSC-3. When 30 mg/kg of CPT-11 was administered in combination with CDDP, co mplete tumor regression was observed in both TTSC-2 and TTSC-3 tumors. Histological findings correlated well with the decrease in tumor volu me of treated tumors. No mice died after treatment with CPT-11 in a si ngle-agent and combination chemotherapy. Conclusion: Chemotherapy with CPT-11 was an effective and safe method against human testicular tumo rs heterotransplanted in nude mice.