Abstract
Objective
To study the antineoplastic effect of the calcium channel blocker verapamil and 5-fluorouracil intraperitoneal chemotherapy on hepatocarcinoma-bearing rats, and examine the action between calcium channel blockers and cytotoxic drugs.
Methods
We adopted the method of subcapsular implantation of carcinoma tissues of walker-256 in the left liver lobe as a model of liver carcinoma-bearing rats. All experimental animals were divided into four groups. On the sixth day post implantation, in group A (control group) 6 ml of saline was injected intraperitoneally once a day for 3 days. In group B (single chemotherapy group) 6 ml, of 5-Fu 75 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally once a day for 3 days. In group C (combination of treatment group) both 5-Fu (75 mg/kg) and verapamil (25 mg/kg) were administered simultaneously as in A and B. In group D (simple verapamil group) only 6 ml of verapamil (25 mg/kg) was administered as above.
Results
Compared with groups A, B and D, The volume of cancer and the contents of liver cancer DNA and protein were significantly reduced. The rates of inhibiting cancer (89.9% in group C and 35.4% in group B) were significantly increased in group C. Group C had significantly long survival time compared to groups A, B and D (P<0.05). By light microscopy, a number of focal necroses were found in cancer tissue in group C.
Conclusion
Calcium channel blockers can enhance the antineoplastic effect of 5-Fu intraperitoneal chemotherapy to liver cancer: The use of verapamil can not increase the toxicity of 5-Fu.
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Cao, T., Shi, H. & Zhou, Y. Antineoplastic effect of calcium channel blocker-verapamil and 5-fluorouracil intraperitoneal chemotherapy on hepatocarcinoma-bearing rats. Chin. -Ger. J. Clin. Oncol. 1, 84–87 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02851740
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02851740