Response of primary tumour, spontaneous metastases and recurrence of Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) to flavone acetic acid (FAA, LM975).

B6D2F1 mice bearing 3LL were more sensitive to FAA than control mice, the LD50 being 180 x 2 and 336 x 2 mg/kg respectively. At a dosage of 140 mg/kg, injected i.p. at day 4 and 11, FAA significantly decreased the primary tumour growth, the occurrence and the growth of spontaneous pulmonary metastases. The effect of two injections was dose-dependent on the primary tumour and metastases; the survival time was also dose-related. Combined with primary tumour ablation, FAA administered before any dissemination (at day 3) was more efficient against metastases than when it was injected after the end of the dissemination (i.e. after primary tumour ablation). When all treatment schedules were pooled, the number of mice without metastasis was significantly higher in treated than in control groups. The effect of FAA on recurrences was also notable.