Phagocytosis of yeast cells by monocytes: effects of fluorouracil, doxorubicin and mitomycin.

The drugs in the FAM combination (fluorouracil, doxorubicin, mitomycin) were tested for a possible effect on monocyte function by means of a glass-surface fluorescence-quenching technique of monocyte phagocytosis. The individual drugs significantly inhibited monocyte phagocytosis. The inhibition was located at the engulfment phase of phagocytosis and in an order of magnitude of 20-30%. The FAM combination did not suppress monocyte phagocytosis more than each one of the individual drugs. It is suggested that a slight inhibition of monocyte phagocytosis is a cost of cytotoxic treatment.