[Potentiating effect of disodium salt of 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-bis-carbonyl hydroxyacetic acid on the activity of various antitumor agents].

The disodium salt of 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-bis-carbonyl hydroxyacetic acid (I) used in the mg/kg dose decreases the cyclophosphane toxicity in mice and potentiates the cytostatic activity of cyclophosphane, 5-fluorouracil and arabinosyl cytosine against leukemia P388, murine sarcoma 37 and Walker's carcinosarcoma. Administered alone I exhibits no antitumour activity. The potentiation of the antitumour effect of drugs appears independent of the administration schedule. Biochemical evidence indicates that I does not block DNA synthesis in leukemic cells in vitro, but significantly enhances the DNA-blocking effect of cyclophosphane in the same cells in vivo.