• 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (2) , 652-656
Abstract
By combining 5-fluorouracil and cis-diamminedichloro-platinum(II) at drug levels which are ineffective when used alone, L1210 leukemia in mice was cured in a single treatment session. The doses of the drugs used in this combination can be decreased, with no corresponding decrease in their effectiveness, if they are administered in conjunction with a very low dose of radiation (.gamma.-rays), which, when used alone, is ineffective. In the cells, the explanation for the synergic action of radiation, 5-fluorouracil, and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) can be found in the action of each of the cytostatics at different phases of the cell cycle, each cytostatic favoring the action of the others. It is important to emphasize the order in which chemotherapy and radiotherapy are administered, as well as the time lapse between administration of the 2 treatments, maximum effectiveness having been obtained when radiotherapy was carried out 8 to 24 h after chemotherapy.