Chlorpromazine-induced hypothermia: effect on tumour progression and survival in mice

The effect of chlorpromazine on tumour progression and survival, when used as a modifier of chemotherapy response and toxicity, was studied in mice. The dosage was 15 mg/kg i.p., tested to produce rectal hypothermia within 1 hour, lasting for at least 8 hours, at an ambient temperature of 28 degrees C. The drug or saline was given to inbred C57Bl/6J mice four days previously inoculated i.v. with MCG101-AA sarcoma cells. Little acute toxicity, except for the intended hypothermia, was observed. No influence on survival could be discerned, nor any influence upon distribution of tumour deposits. In this tumour model system, chlorpromazine can be used as a chemotherapy response modifier without significant effects per se.