Synergistic effect of peplomycin in combination with bleomycin on L5178y mouse lymphoma cells in vivo.

Studying the treatment of NMRI mice with ip injections of bleomycin (BLM) for 5 days we found an approximate LD50 of 35 mg/kg; the toxicity of peplomycin (PEP) was slightly higher (LD50: approximately 25 mg/kg). The effect of the two drugs on growth of L5178y mouse lymphoma cells in NMRI mice was examined. BLM alone caused at a concentration of 2.5 mg/kg an almost complete inhibition of tumor cell growth; the same effect was determined with 1 mg PEP/kg. At these concentrations the drugs caused an increase of the survival time of 110% (BLM) or 104% (PEP). Given in combination, one-sixth of the optimal doses yielded an 100% increase of the median survival time. These results indicate a significant synergistic activity of the PEP-BLM combination on L5178y cell growth in vivo (FIC index: 0.34).