[An approach to prolongation of survival rate in tumor bearing mice using 5-fluorouracil in combination with various kinds of herb medicine].

The effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in combination with herb medicine on the prolongation of survival rate in tumor bearing mice was studied. 5-FU directly inhibited the growth of cancer cells in vitro. However, the herb medicines used in this experiment showed neither an inhibitory effect on the growth of cancer cells nor prevention of inhibitory effect of 5-FU on the growth of cancer cells. 5-FU in combination with various kinds of herb medicine prolonged the survival time of tumor bearing mice. 5-FU in combination with shosaiko-toh was most effective; its increase of life span (ILS) was by 56%. However, mitomycin C in combination with shosaiko-toh was not associated with the prolongation of the survival rate of tumor bearing mice. The long-term administration of 5-FU to rats resulted in decrease in body weight, food intake, and white blood cell count, and these symptoms were improved when 5-FU was used in combination with shosaiko-toh. However, the increase in A/G ratio due to a decrease in the serum globulin fraction and marked atrophy of the thymus were not improved even when shosaiko-toh was combined with 5-FU.