[Combined effect of intravenous hyperalimentation and chemotherapy on experimental meningioma]

Combination effects of intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH) and chemotherapy were studied in rats with meningeal carcinomatosis. Sprague-Dawley rats were inoculated intracisternally with 1 X 10(4) Walker 256 carcinosarcoma cells. Animals were divided into five groups of 10 to 12 animals per group: 1) no treatment; 2) cyclophosphamide 30 mg/kg i.v. at 5 days after tumor inoculation (Day 5); 3) IVH (Day 5 to Day 10); 4) cyclophosphamide (Day 5) and IVH (Day 5 to Day 10); and 5) cyclophosphamide (Day 5) and IVH (Day 10 to Day 15). The group of IVH alone reduced survival time significantly (p less than 0.001) compared with no treatment group. Cyclophosphamide alone increased survival time significantly (p less than 0.001) in comparison with no treatment group. Combination of cyclophosphamide (Day 5) and IVH (Day 5 to Day 10) did not prolong survival time compared with cyclophosphamide alone. However, IVH (Day 10 to 15) in combination with cyclophosphamide (Day 5) prolonged survival time significantly (p less than 0.001) in comparison with cyclophosphamide alone. Mean body weight was reduced maximally at 5 to 10 days after cyclophosphamide injection. However, no reduction of body weight was noted while animals were on IVH. The present data appears to indicate that IVH may reduce the side effects of cyclophosphamide and may prolong the survival time.