[Effect of combination chemotherapy of nitrosourea MCNU with various anti-tumor agents]

The combination chemotherapy of water-soluble nitrosourea MCNU with various anti-tumor agents was studied using L1210 leukemia, Lewis lung carcinoma and B16 melanoma. The combinations of MCNU with 5-fluorouracil, cytosine arabinoside, adriamycin, mitomycin C, carboquone or cyclophosphamide produced significantly enhanced anti-tumor effects in L1210 leukemia. By combination with antimetabolites such as 5-fluorouracil or cytosine arabinoside, marked anti-tumor effects were observed over a wide range of dosage. It was suggested that 2-drug combination of MCNU plus 5-fluorouracil or 3-drug combination of MCNU plus 5-fluorouracil and adriamycin was useful in Lewis lung carcinoma or B16 melanoma. From these results, it was recognized that the multiple drug combination chemotherapy of MCNU was therapeutically useful, when given with 5-fluorouracil or cytosine arabinoside.