Inhibitory effects of combined administration of 5-FU and Krestin on liver cancer KDH-8 in WKA/H rats.

Abstract

The effectiveness of the combined administration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and Krestin (PSK) on experimentally induced liver cancer has not been established. This study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of the combined administration of these drugs on tumor growth and metastasis. Male inbred WKA/H strain rats were used. The drugs used were 5-FU and PSK, each dissolved in water and fed orally. The drugs were administered separately or concurrently in standardized cycles to the tumor-bearing animals. KDH-8 ascitic liver cancer cells were subcutaneously transplanted into WKA rats. The tumor growth inhibition rates of 5-FU and PSK were then determined. Eighteen days after subcutaneous transplantation, tumor growth in the combined administration group was significantly inhibited, compared to the control group and the single treatment groups (p < .05). In addition, a liver metastatic model was prepared by transplanting KDH-8 cells into the spleen. Then the metastatic inhibitory effects of 5-FU and PSK were analyzed. At 14 days, the mean number of liver metastatic nodules was approximately 63 in the control group. However, the combined-medicated group showed a much lower number of nodules (40), indicating that metastasis was significantly inhibited (p < .05).