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Title: WR-2721: enhanced chemoprotection by increasing cyclophosphamide activation with phenobarbitol

Journal Article · · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

In the animal model, WR-2721 protects the bone marrow against the cytotoxicity of cyclophosphamide (CYC) and nitrogen mustard (HN/sub 2/) by factors of 1.5-2.4 and 3.2-4.6, respectively. NH/sub 2/ is rapidly metabolized within minutes, while CYC is activated slowly over hours by the hepatic mixed function oxidases. The prolonged half-life of CYC may account for the reduced chemoprotection as compared to NH/sub 2/. Phenobarbitol (PB) pretreatment significantly shortens the half-life of CYC in man and in the rat model. Thus, pretreatment with PB, by inducing hepatic microsomal enzymes, may enhance chemoprotection with WR-2721. Experiments were performed to determine: (1) The effect of PB pretreatment on the clearance of WR-2721; (2) Whether WR-2721 protects against CYC myelotoxicity measured by daily leukocyte counts; (3) Whether PB increases chemoprotection with WR-2721 and CYC. Female Fisher rats were pretreated with daily PB 40 mg/kg intraperitoneally (ip) for four days prior to the administration of 100 mg/kg CYC ip with and without WR-2721 200 mg/kg ip. Controls received saline ip in place of PB on the same schedule. CYC levels and alkylating activity were measured at 15, 13, 60 and 180 minutes after CYC. Serum and tissue levels of WR-2721 were assayed by radiolabel technique. Following CYC, daily WBC were obtained for 10 days at which point all counts had returned to baseline. PB may increase the acute toxicity of WR-2721 as judged by hypothermic response. PB had minimal effects on serum and tissue level of WR-2721. PB appears to enhance WR-2721's chemoprotection against myelosuppression from CYC by hastening marrow recovery and decreasing the extent of leukopenia.

Research Organization:
Univ. Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
OSTI ID:
6702372
Journal Information:
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 8:3/4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English