QUINACRINE AND COPPER, COMPOUNDS WITH ANTICONCEPTIVE AND ANTINEOPLASTIC ACTIVITY

Changes in the evolution of a malignant transplantable tumor in mice t o whom quinacrine, copper and zinc were supplied in drinking water are reported. Male AJ mice were inoculated in the right thigh with 1,000, 000 TA3 or TA3 MTXR tumoral cells. Three experiments were designed wit h different types of tumors and different schedules of quinacrine and cations administered in drinking water. The animals that received quin acrine or quinacrine plus copper in drinking water had significantly s maller tumors, and some groups had a high rate of complete tumor regre ssion (up to 60%). Quinacrine and copper have synergistic antineoplast ic activity. Zinc salts do not improve the antitumoral effect of quina crine. The relevant fact of this experiment lies in the fact that a la rge number of women using IUDs with copper could occasionally be treat ed with quinacrine.