title: Effect of gemcitabine on the tolerance of the lung to single-dose irradiation in C3H mice.
abstract: In an early phase II trial combining gemcitabine (dFdC) and radiotherapy for lung carcinomas, severe pulmonary toxicity was observed. In this framework, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dFdC on the tolerance of the lungs of C3H mice to single-dose irradiation. The thoraxes of C3H mice were irradiated with a graded single dose of 8 MV photons; dFdC (150 mg/kg) or saline (control animals) was administered i.p. 3 or 48 h prior to irradiation. Lung tolerance was assessed by the LD50 at 7-180 days after irradiation. For irradiation alone, the LD50 reached 14.45 Gy (95% CI 13.33-15.66 Gy). With a 3-h interval between administration of dFdC and irradiation, the LD50 reached 13.29 (95% CI 12.26-14.44 Gy); the corresponding value with a 48-h interval reached 13.01 Gy (95% CI 11.92-14.20 Gy). Our data also suggested a possible effect of dFdC on radiation-induced esophageal toxicity. dFdC has a minimal effect on lung tolerance after single-dose irradiation. However, a proper phase I-II trial should be designed before any routine use of combined dFdC and radiotherapy in the thoracic region.
authors.affiliation: Université Catholique de Louvain, St-Luc University Hospital, Department of Radiation Oncology, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grégoire
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cvilic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beauduin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Coster
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gueulette
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Octave-Prignot
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scalliet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D008168:Lung / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine