[Study of the immunological mechanism of anti-tumor effects of 5-FU by establishing EL4 tumor-bearing mouse models].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the immunological mechanism of anti-tumor effect of 5-FU by establishing lymphoma EL4 tumor-bearing mouse models in wild type C57BL/6 mice and nude C57BL/6 mice, respectively.


METHODS
The mouse lymphoma EL4 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into wild type C57BL/6 mice (immune-competent mice). Twelve days later, 5-FU of different doses was administered intraperitoneally to treat these wild type C57BL/6 tumor-bearing mice. The size of tumors in the wild type C57BL/6 mice was observed and recorded to explore the minimal dose of 5-FU that could cure the tumor-bearing mice. Then the same amount of EL4 tumor cells was inoculated subcutaneously into wild type C57BL/6 mice and nude C57BL/6 mice (T cell-deficient mice) simultaneously, which had the same genetic background of C57BL/6. Twelve days later, 5-FU of the minimal dose was given intraperitoneally to treat both the wild type and nude C57BL/6 tumor-bearing mice. The size of tumors in the two different types of mice was observed and recorded.


RESULTS
A single dose of 5-FU (75 mg/kg) cured both the EL4 tumor-bearing wild type C57BL/6 mice and the EL4 tumor-bearing nude C57BL/6 mice in the first week. Two weeks after 5-FU treatment, all of the nude mice died of tumor relapse while most of the wild type C57BL/6 mice were fully recovered.


CONCLUSIONS
A single dose of 5-FU has marked anti-tumor effects on lymphoma EL4 tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice with or without T lymphocytes. The relapse of tumors after 5-FU treatment might be related to the function of T lymphocytes.
Li
Mo-Lin
ML
Department of Pathophysiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116027, China.
Li
Chuan-Gang
CG
Shu
Xiao-Hong
XH
Li
Ming-Xia
MX
Jia
Yu-Jie
YJ
Qin
Zhi-Hai
ZH
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012008:Recurrence; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005472:Fluorouracil