Chemotherapy of transplanted neurogenic tumors in the rat (author's transl)

1. After s.c. and intracerebral (i.c.) inoculation, 4 neurogenic tumors of the rat (3 malignant neurinomas, 1 polymorphcellular glioma) revealed an altogether weak response towards a monotherapy with 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea(BCNU), 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU), 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(4-Methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitro sourea (MeCCNU), 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea (OH-ethyl-CCNU), 2-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureidol]-D-glucopyranose (chlorozotocin), 5-(3,3-dimethyl-1-triazeno)-imidazol-4-carboxamide (DTIC). Cyclophosphamide (CPA) which was investigated for comparison showed the greatest therapeutic activity; in an equitoxic dosage (less than or equal to LD10), in all 4 s.c. tumors, partial or complete regression were effected only by CPA. 2. If the passage number increases, the response of transplanted neurogenic rat tumors to monochemotherapy can both increase and decrease. 3. In the monotherapy of 3 malignant neurinomas we were unable, on the whole, to observe a higher sensitivity after s.c. inoculation as compared with an i.c. inoculation of the tumor, despite a varying effectiveness of the single substances. 4. In the monotherapy of the polymorphcellular glioma a better response of the i.c. inoculated tumor was recognizable compared to the s.c. inoculated tumor. 5. A combination chemotherapy of a malignant neurinoma after s.c. and i.c. inoculation with vincristine, CPA, OH-ethyl-CNU and MeCcNU yielded a significant increase in life-span of animals with i.c. tumor, whereas s.c. tumors showed no significant growth inhibition. y. Transplanted neurogenic tumors of the rat could serve at less sensitive models for the investigation of new nitrosoureas.