Lonidamine can enhance the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin in human tumour cells and rodent cells.

Lonidamine combined with cisplatin treatment was tested in human glioma (U87MG) human squamous cell carcinoma (UMSCCl) and Chinese hamster (HA1) cells. The order of sensitivity to cisplatin was HA1 greater than U87MG greater than UMSCCl. Lonidamine caused little sensitization in U87MG cells, moderate sensitization in HA1 cells and large sensitization in UMSCCl cells. The degree of sensitization was correlated to the effect of lonidamine on cell growth. The degree of sensitization to cisplatin by lonidamine treatment was dependent on lonidamine exposure concentration, time and treatment sequence. Lonidamine shows potential for enhancement of cisplatin chemotherapy but this appears to be cell type specific and should be tested for cells derived from sites of clinical interest for such drug therapy.