Enhancement of the Antitumor Activity of Adriamycin by Tween 80

Abstract

This paper describes the effect of Tween 80 on the antitumor activity and on the distribution of adriamycin in mice. The dilution of adriamycin in a 10% water solution of Tween 80 produced a significant increase of the antitumor activity in mice against ascites tumors (L1210 leukemia), disseminated leukemias (transplanted leukemias originally induced by Gross leukemia virus and Moloney leukemia virus), and solid tumors (Sarcoma 180, MS-2 sarcoma). In all these experiments the drug was administered i.v., according to different schedules. Higher antitumor activity at the optimal dose and an increase of activity at lower doses were observed in different experimental systems. Toxicity was also slightly enhanced. Tissue distribution was studied in normal mice and in tumor-bearing mice (Gross leukemia and MS-2 sarcoma). In animals given i.v. adriamycin diluted in 10% Tween 80 there was a higher drug concentration in spleen, lung and kidney than there was in mice given the drug in a water solution. In all the other organs examined (heart, liver, small intestine) and in the MS-2 tumor tissue, no significant increase was observed. In L1210 leukemia-bearing mice, i.p. treatment with adriamycin diluted in 10% Tween 80 resulted in a significantly higher toxicity than that which resulted from treatment with adriamycin in a water solution; no increase of antitumor activity was observed.