[Modification of hematotoxic effects of cyclophosphamide by anabolid steroids]

Human malignant tumors have been shown to be highly resistant to the chemotherapeutic agents so far available. Since these have to be administered in high doses, hematotoxic effects occur frequently during such treatment. Androgens and anabolic steroids being potent stimulators of normal and of some forms of impaired erythropoiesis, studies were initiated in rats to assess the possibility of a protective role of these steroids against the toxicity of cyclophosphamide. The following results were obtained: 1. A single dose of cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg) significantly lowered the erythrocyte, reticulocyte, hemoglobin, leucocyte and platelet counts. 2. An initial treatment with nandrolone phenylpropionate signifiantly reduced the decrease of both the erythrocyte and the hemoglobin counts. 3. An initial treatment with metenolone enanthate (Primobolan-Depot) completely prevented the reduction of erythrocytes in appropriate experimental conditions and significantly reduced the decrease of hemoglobins. 4. There was no effect of these steroids on the drop of granulocytes, lymphocytes and platelets. These observations suggest that combination of anabolic steroid therapy with cyclophosphamide therapy may be worthy of clinical trial in patients whose tumors are not subject to growth stimulation by androgenic steroids.