Metoclopramide inhibits the cytotoxicity of cisplatin and enhances the cytotoxicity of epirubicin.

During cancer treatment, the use of antiemetics are often needed due to induction of nausea and vomiting by antineoplastic drugs. Some antiemetics have however been afflicted with cytotoxic effects during f1p4otherapy. The influence of the commonly used antiemetic metoclopramide on the cytotoxicity of epirubicin and cisplatin was tested on fibroblasts (V79) and lung cancer cells (P31) in vitro. The clonogenic survival of fibroblast and lung cancer cells were reduced when the cells were exposed to epirubicin or cisplatin. Metoclopramide (0.5 or 5 mg/l) enhanced epirubicin-induced toxicity to both fibroblast and lung cancer cells, but inhibited the cytotoxicity of cisplatin. The demonstrated effect of metoclopramide on cells in vitro and the fact that metoclopramide is used as a routine antiemetic during cancer treatment, may indicate that a possible clinical interaction with the antineoplastic action of cancer treatment drugs should be given attention.