Lung damage in C57B1 mice following thoracic irradiation: enhancement by chemotherapy.

C57Bl mice were treated with thoracic irradiation to doses in the range 12.0 to 18.9 gray. Few deaths were observed in the period 80--160 days after irradiation (an end-point of lung damage used by other investigators) and the median survival times ranged from 200 to 310 days. CBA mice treated under identical conditions predominantly died between 80--160 days and it is therefore concluded that C57Bl mice show unusually prolonged survival following this treatment. Six chemotherapeutic agents were given to C57Bl mice together with thoracic irradiation, in most cases two weeks beforehand. Adriamycin, bleomycin and cyclophosphamide enhanced the mortality of the mice. Most agents had little effect on radiation-induced skin damage.