Abstract
METHOTREXATE (MTX) is effective in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia1, choriocarcinoma2, Burkitt's lymphoma3, and a number of other solid tumours4–6. An increased therapeutic index for methotrexate with delayed citrovorum factor (CF) has been reported in experimental tumour systems7 and in patients with head and neck cancer6 and osteogenic sarcoma8. The biological basis for this increased therapeutic index is not known, but delay in administration of citrovorum factor is a crucial feature. We have studied the effects of thymidine (TdR) on the toxicity and therapeutic effect of MTX in mice bearing leukaemia L1210. CF was included in the experiments as a positive control, and allopurinol because this drug has been reported to impair the antitumour effects of MTX9.
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TATTERSALL, M., BROWN, B. & FREI, E. The reversal of methotrexate toxicity by thymidine with maintenance of antitumour effects. Nature 253, 198–200 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/253198a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/253198a0
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