[In vitro combined effects of pirarubicin (THP) and various antitumor drugs on human tumor cell lines]

The combined effects of pirarubicin (THP) and various antitumor drugs on HeLa S3 human uterine cervix carcinoma and K562 human myelocytic leukemia cells were determined by enhancement of their cytotoxic activities. The combination of 0.15 microgram/ml THP with cisplatin (CDDP), mitomycin C (MMC), peplomycin (PEP), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), methotrexate (MTX), enocitabine (BH-AC) or etoposide showed synergistic effects on HeLa S3 cells. Also, the combination of 0.01 microgram/ml THP with CDDP, BH-AC or etoposide showed synergistic effects on K562 cells. Especially, the combined effects of THP with MMC or MTX were remarkable, and the combination under almost all concentrations of MMC or MTX showed synergistic effects on HeLa S3 cells. On the other hand, the combination of adriamycin (ADM) with MMC or MTX did not show such a remarkable effects on HeLa S3 cells.