Antitumor agents. II. Effect of 5-fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide on immunological parameters and liver microsomes of tumor-bearing rats.
An attempt has been made to clarify immunosuppressive properties of anti-tumor agents by studying the effect of the agents on the thymus, the reticulo-endothelial system (RES) and hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme activities of tumor (an ascites hepatoma, AH 130 cells)-bearing rats. A drastic decrease in the thymus weight and the total number of the lymphocytes and an enhanced activity of thymus alkaline phosphatase were detected by injecting either 5-fluorouracil (5FU) or cyclophosphamide (CP) (30 mg each/kg weight, i.p.) daily for 5 days to tumor-bearing rats. The agents, however, did not induce any conspicuous damage in microsomal mixed function oxidase system or the RES. The presence of 10-day-old tumor resulted in an extreme decrease in the weight and lymphocytes of thymus and a partial decrease in the microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme activities and the RES. Thus, these antitumor agents may lead to the decline of host-mediated immune mechanism. The multiplication of the tumor cells also appears to depress the immune functions and the host resistance.
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000187:drug effects; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D005472:Fluorouracil