Effects of vinorelbine and titanocene dichloride on human tumour xenografts in nude mice
Friedrich, M.; Villena-Heinsen, C.; Farnhammer, C.; Schmidt, W.
European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology 19(4): 333-337
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0392-2936 PMID: 9744720 Document Number: 491149
Purpose: In this study, the new antineoplastic agents titanocene dichloride and vinorelbine are compared to cisplatin an paclitaxel using a human ovarian cancer xenograft model. Methods: Biopsy material from one native human ovarian carcinoma was expanded and transplanted into 48 nude mice. The animals were divided into six treatment groups: cisplatin 3 X 4 mg/kg, paclitaxel 5 X 26 mg/kg, vinorelbine 1 X 20 mg/kg, titanocene dichloride 3 X 30 mg/kg, titanocene dichloride 3 X 40 mg/kg and a control group treated with 0.9% saline. Treatment groups were evaluated in terms of average daily increase in tumour volume and average daily body weight increase of the nude mice based on slopes of least square regressions performed on individual animals. The slope factors alpha and beta of the body weight (alpha) and tumour volume changes (beta) within each group were calculated. Results: A statistically significant decrease (p < 0.05) in body weight of the experimental animals was shown in groups treated with paclitaxel (alpha = -0.6878) and titanocene dichloride 3 X 40 mg/kg (alpha = -0.7194) compared to the control group which was treated with 0.9% saline (alpha = -0.2643). Significant body weight changes were not observed in the comparison of the remaining treated groups (cisplatin: alpha = -0.4552, vinorelbine: alpha = -0.5606, titanocene dichloride 3 X 30 mg/kg: alpha = -0.6173 to the control group. A significant reduction (p < 0.05) of the increase tumour volume (vinorelbine: beta = 5.260, paclitaxel: beta = 0.478, titanocene dichloride 3 X 30 mg/kg: beta = 10.283, titanocene dichloride 3 X 40 mg/kg; beta = 5.768) was shown in treated groups except for cisplatin (beta = 18.722) compared to the tumour bearing control group (beta = 30.136). A statistically significant reduction of the increase in tumour volume occurred under paclitaxel medication compared to the group treated with cisplatin. Conclusion: We found titanocene dichloride to be effective as vinorelbine and more effective than cisplatin. Vinorelbine seems to be a very effective antineoplastic agent with a significantly higher cytostatic effect than cisplatin. Both titanocene dichloride and vinorelbine provide new therapeutic options in women with ovarian carcinoma not responding to standard chemotherapies.