Apparent ineffectiveness of adriamycin for growth of androgen-dependent Shionogi carcinoma 115 in the mouse.

Although adriamycin (1 mg/kg) and 5-fluorouracil (25 mg/kg) were equally effective in inhibiting the growth of Ehrlich carcinoma, both ascites and solid forms, in the mouse, the growth of Shionogi carcinoma 115 in the male DS mouse was relatively resistant to the treatment with adriamycin as compared to 5-fluorouracil. However, direct cytotoxic activity of adriamycin in cultured Shionogi carcinoma 115 (SC 115) cells was about 1000-fold molar potent when compared with 5-fluorouracil. The apparent ineffectiveness of adriamycin against SC 115 in the DS mouse seems to be, at least in part, due to the depression of host defence mechanisms.