NSC 290205-based therapy in murine pancreatic adenocarcinoma PAN02 in combination with adriamycin (ADR).

Background: NSC 290205 (A) is a hybrid synthetic antitumor ester, which combines a D-lactam derivative of androsterone and nitrogen mustard. In this study, the antitumor activity of A in combination with ADR (AHOP) was investigated in comparison with the standard CHOP regimen.

Materials And Methods: PAN02 adenocarcinoma was used in this study. C57Bl mice were used for chemotherapy evaluation. The activity was assessed from the inhibition of tumor growth and the oncostatic parameter T/C%.

Results: Treatment with A or cyclophosphamide produced almost equal borderline activity. Moreover, both the CHOP and AHOP regimens showed significant and comparable antitumor effects. AHOP caused the maximum effect, inhibiting tumor growth by 56.8%. CHOP was less effective, producing 47.7% tumor inhibition.

Conclusion: It is very likely that the D-lactamic steroid (androstan) alkylator forA, containing the amide group -NH-CO-, combined with ADR which intercalates between DNA base-pairs, is the explanation for the higher activity of AHOP as compared to CHOP.