title: Prevention of gallium toxicity by hyperhydration in treatment of medulloblastoma.
abstract: In vitro and in vivo studies have established gallium nitrate as an effective chemotherapeutic agent against human medulloblastoma. In vitro, gallium nitrate reduced cell proliferation and DNA synthesis of medulloblastoma Daoy. Gallium inhibits the availability of 59Fe to ribonucleotide reductase and has a direct effect on the enzyme itself. In vivo, gallium demonstrated similar effects on the medulloblastoma Daoy cell line in nude mice. Tumor growth rate and actual size were decreased; however, severe nephrotoxicity and mortality were observed. In our study, intradermal injections of medulloblastoma Daoy cells were given to nude mice and then tumors were allowed to grow. Tumor-bearing mice received a 15-day gallium (50 mg/kg/day) regimen, 20-day rest, 7-day gallium (66.5 mg/kg/day) dose escalation regimen beginning when tumor size exceeded 8-10 mm in diameter. All treated and control mice received saline hyperhydration during both treatment sessions. Our study resulted in the prevention of severe toxicity and an inhibition of tumor growth. No toxicity occurred with gallium nitrate at 50 mg/kg/day. Severe morbidity and mortality were observed at the higher gallium dose level (66.5 mg/kg/day), suggesting that the 50 mg/kg/day dose is the appropriate level when investigating gallium nitrate as a chemotherapy agent in nude mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bajic
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Segura
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: McAuliffe
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Chitambar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005708:Gallium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008940:Mitotic Index / Q000187:drug effects; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D005708:Gallium; C027235:gallium nitrate