CURE OF MICE BEARING P388 LEUKEMIA BY VINCRISTINE IN COMBINATION WITH A CALCIUM-CHANNEL BLOCKER

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 69  (5) , 523-525
Abstract
Mice inoculated with P388 leukemia were treated initially with vincristine (VCR) at a dose of either 1.5 or 2.0 mg/kg. After 1 wk, VCR (0.1 mg/kg) was given daily for 10 treatments, but no mice were cured with this regimen. However, when the calcium channel blocker verapamil (75 mg/kg) was administered with VCR at 1.5 or 2.0 mg/kg, lifespans were prolonged and 1 of 10 or 6 of 1 mice were cured, respectively. As reported previousy, verapamil renders less sensitive or resistant tumor cells susceptible to VCR by inhibiting the VCR efflux mechanism, especially in resistant cells. Therefore, verapamil in combination with VCR apparently can result in total cell kill under the conditions used.