Choice of vincristine or 6-mercaptopurine on the basis of polyamine level in tumor-bearing regions of the brain.
The effects of vincristine (VC) and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) on body weight, regional weights, and the contents of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine in six regions of the brain were examined in rats that had been given these drugs for 5 consecutive days. VC is recommended for management of tumors in the corpus striatum and/or hippocampus, and cortex although its efficacy is dependent on the doubling time of the tumor cells, whereas 6-MP is recommended for the management of tumors in the cortex, thalamus and/or hypothalamus, and diencephalon. VC and 6-MI are chosen for treatment of the brain tumors because they reduce polyamines which are associated with the reduction of drug-sensitive cells and an inhibition of tumor growth.
Department of Pharmacology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki City, Okayama, Japan.
S
S
Watanabe
S
S
Sato
S
S
Nagase
K
K
Shimosato
S
S
Ohkuma
D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008297:Male; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011073:Polyamines / Q000032:analysis*; D011700:Putrescine / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013095:Spermidine / Q000032:analysis; D013096:Spermine / Q000032:analysis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D011073:Polyamines; D013096:Spermine; D014750:Vincristine; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine