Inhibition of adriamycin cardiotoxicity by 5-fluorouracil: A potential free oxygen radical scavenger

Andriamycin (ADR), a broad spectrum anticancer agent, has a limit to total dose used, due to cumulative cardiotoxicity. This side effect has been test ed in the present study in combined administration with 5-fluorouracil a cy totoxic drug that often is applied together with ADR in cancer treatment. T he study was performed on Wistar mts, and the experiment consisted of weekl y administration for 12 weeks of adriamycin alone, of 5-fluorouracil alone, a combination of both, and a control group (normal saline) in separate gro ups comprising 42 animals each. The histology of the cardiac muscle, large vessels and liver, biochemistry of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL -C and oxygen free radical production were examined. It was found that addi tion of 5-FU to the ADR administration reduced significantly the cardiac le sions, delayed and reduced the increase of serum lipids, produced by ADR al one and oxygen free radical production was also reduced, indicating that 5- fluorouracil is acting as a scavenger of free radicals.