Nude mouse xenograft study for treatment of neuroblastoma: effects of chemotherapeutic agents and surgery on tumor growth and cell kinetics.

Four human neuroblastomas transplanted into nude mice were used for experimental chemotherapy and surgery, and the following results were obtained. Cyclophosphamide was the most effective for human neuroblastoma, cis-platinum being the second, among several chemotherapeutic drugs examined. Aclacinomycin A is more effective than Adriamycin. VM26 should be administered 48 to 72 hours after injection of cis-platinum, according to flow cytometric analysis. Flow cytometric analysis also disclosed that residual tumor grows most rapidly seven days after subtotal excision. However, chemotherapy is more effective in the postoperative period than it is in the preoperative period.