EVALUATION OF TOXICITY OF CYPENHYMUSTINE, A NEW ANTICANCER COMPOUND, IN MICE

The toxicity of cypenhymustine, a potential anticancer compound 1 (Can cer Letters, 70 (1993) 1-6), was assessed in normal as well as in Ehrl ich ascites carcinoma (EAC), Sarcoma-180 (S-180) and Dalton's lymphoma (DL)-bearing Swiss male mice by measuring drug-induced changes in (I) hematological parameters and (2) femoral bone marrow cellularity on da y 9 following drug treatment at the optimum dose of 3.0 mg/kg body wei ght from days 1 to 7. Detailed studies were also made by noting sequen tial changes in the above parameters in normal and EAC-bearing mice on days 12, 15, 18 and 21, respectively. The results indicate that the c ompound did not adversely affect hematopoiesis. From the sequential st udies, it was observed that after a mild initial decrease in hematolog ical counts, particularly in EAC-bearing treated mice, normalcy was re ached within 11-14 days after termination of drug therapy. Drug induce d hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were also sequentially evaluated i n normal and EAC-bearing mice on days 9, 12 and 15 but no such toxicit ies were detected. Also, body weight, skin and hair texture, and behav ioural pattern (food and water intake and activity) did not reflect an y toxic reaction in the host mice at this optimum dose.