[The effect of unithiol on the antineoplastic and antimetastatic activity of N-methylformamide]

Antitumor and antimetastatic properties of N-methyl formamide--an agent related to differentiation of tumoral cells and unithiol, official detoxicating drug containing SH-groups were studied in C57Bl/6 mice inoculated with Lewis's lung carcinoma. The drugs were administered intraperitoneally into animals at days 1, 4, 7, 13 and 16 after carcinoma inoculation and their effects were evaluated at day 19. Single administration of unithiol, 5 mg/kg body weight, did not affect tumor growth and metastases spreading. At the same time, N-methyl formamide (single administration of 300 mg/kg body weight) inhibited tumor growth and decreased 5-fold an amount of spontaneous metastases in lungs. However, the antitumor and antimetastatic activities of N-methyl formamide were decreased after simultaneous administration with unithiol. Importance of SH-groups in therapeutic effects of N-methyl formamide is discussed.