title: Leukopoiesis is not affected after intravenous treatment with the novel antineoplastic agent taurolidine. Results of an experimental study in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chemotherapy can induce serious leukopenia. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects on leukopoiesis when the antineoplastic agent taurolidine (TRD) is administered by a bolus injection or during repetitive treatment (21 cycles) over 7 days in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were intravenously treated with a single injection (A) or by a 7-day treatment (B) with increasing doses of TRD versus control (isotone sodium) in a standardized animal model. Hematological adverse effects on leukopoiesis were analyzed in peripheral blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (A) Neither the highest TRD concentration (3%) nor 1 or 2% caused a significant difference between the control and TRD groups (p > 0.085) in the perioperative course after bolus administration. (B) The administration of TRD 3% led to a slight change of granulocyte and monocyte counts compared to the control group particularly on postoperative day 7, but this difference was not significant. In both protocols a slight postoperative increase in leukocytes was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report that TRD administered intravenously in an antitumor dose does not affect leukopoiesis in rats. Thus, the agent offers a promising and safe means in cancer treatment. The effects are currently investigated in incurable cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. chris.braumann@charite.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Braumann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menenakos
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Atanassov
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Pfirrmann
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guenther
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Jacobi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019891:Leukopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D013654:Taurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013829:Thiadiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013829:Thiadiazines; D013654:Taurine; C012566:taurolidine