Evaluation of cardiac subacute toxicity of epirubicin, chlorambucil, cisplatin, methotrexate and a homo-aza-steroid ester with antitumor activity in rats using serum biochemical parameters.

Cardiac subacute toxicity induced by the antineoplastic drugs epirubicin (CAS 56390-09-1), chlorambucil (CAS 305-03-3), cisplatin (CAS 15663-27-1) and methotrexate (CAS 59-05-2) and the steroid alkylating agent 3 beta-hydroxy-13 alpha-amino-13,17-seco-5 alpha-androstan-17-oic-13, 17-lactam ¿p-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino] phenyl¿ acetate was investigated in rats using serum biochemical parameters. Toxicology evaluation was performed in serum samples following the administration of dose regimens of the agents that were previously shown to be effective in suppressing malignant tumor growth or to prolong survival in tumor-bearing animals. Cardiac subacute toxicity was evaluated by measuring serum enzyme activity of creatine kinase, creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase. The use of the above serum biochemical parameters indicated that the cardiac subacute toxicity impact of the antitumor drugs was epirubicin "methotrexate = chlorambucil = cisplatin > homo-aza-steroid ester.