Antitumor activity of 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil in Lewis lung carcinoma and B16 melanoma.

Abstract

Antitumor activity of 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil (HCFU) against Lewis lung carcinoma and B16 melanoma by long-term oral administration was examined. HCFU was active against the tumors. Increase in life-span in early Lewis lung carcinoma system at optimal dose by the compound was 100%, while those by 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil (FT) and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) were 69 and 33%, respectively. HCFU prevented completely lung metastases of the carcinoma. The potency of HCFU was comparable to that of cyclophosphamide. In advanced Lewis lung carcinoma, HCFU was also markedly active, and the tumor growth at inoculation site was suppressed by the compound, whereas it was slightly suppressed by cyclophosphamide, which was the most active compound as already reported. HCFU was also active against B16 melanoma and increase in life-span at optimal dose was 38%. However, those by FT and 5FU in long-term administration were 26 and 9%, respectively. As a result, HCFU was found to be active not only against rapid growing tumors but against early or advanced slow growing tumors such as Lewis lung carcinoma and B16 melanoma.