Ricerche Sull'Azione Della « Vincaleukoblastine Sulphate » in Associazione Ad Altre Sostanze

Abstract

The antitumoral action of Vincaleukoblastine in association with other substances on Ehrlich ascites tumour has been studied by tests of acute cytotoxicity and by therapeutic trials on the animal. The cytologic analysis of tumour elements, and the values of the calculated mitotic indexes showed that cortisone exerts an antagonistic action on VLB. This finding has been confirmed by therapeutical experiments: in fact, the simultaneous use of the two drugs did not result in a higher antitumoral activity but rather in a shortening of the survival time (probably due to enhancement of toxic effects) in comparison with animals treated with the alkaloid alone. Aminopterin-Vincaleublastine association also failed to exert a significant antitumoral effect, and the data obtained do not differ essentially from those observed after separate administration of the substances. Glutammic acid was found to induce a transient inhibition on VLB activity, as earlier reported by Johnson and coworkers. It is, however, stated that other substances, which interfer on cell energetic metabolism, such as glucose and d-ribose in phosphate buffer, seem to cause a delay of VLB antitumoral action.