Abstract
ETHIDIUM bromide (3,8-diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenyl-phenanthridinium bromide) has been used to treat trypanosome infections of cattle in Africa for some time1,2. (This chemical was kindly supplied by Dr. M. R. Gurd, Boots Pure Drug Co., Ltd., Nottingham. Its alternative name is 2,7-diamino-9-phenyl-10-ethyl-phenanthridinium bromide.) Recently we have examined the biochemical effects of this compound on Ehrlich ascites tumour cells, and have found that it inhibits completely the incorporation of preformed purines (adenine, guanine and hypoxanthine) into nucleic acids3. The possible application of this biochemical effect to cancer chemotherapy was immediately considered. It was believed, however, that ethidium bromide, if used alone, would at best be only moderately carcinostatic because it does not appreciably impair the de novo pathway of purine biosynthesis3. Because the antibiotic azaserine is well known to inhibit completely the de novo synthesis of purines, it was therefore believed that if these two compounds could be used in combination without undue host toxicity, the conditions for a complete concurrent blockade4 of the purine nucleotide supply for nucleic acid synthesis could be effected. Because both drugs maintain their inhibitory effects for less than 24 hr.3,5, for more nearly maximal effect it was felt that both should be administered more often than in the daily treatment schedule usually used in tests of carcinostatic efficacy.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Ford, E. J. H., Wilhurst, E. C., and Karib, A. A., Vet. Rec., 65, 589 (1953).
Wilson, S. G., and Fairclough, R., Vet. Rec., 65, 201 (1953).
Kandaswamy, T. S., and Henderson, J. F. (unpublished results).
Elion, G. B., Singer, S., and Hitchings, G. H., J. Biol. Chem., 208, 477 (1954).
Fernandes, J. F., LePage, G. A., and Linder, A., Cancer Res., 16 (1956).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
KANDASWAMY, T., FRANK HENDERSON, J. Inhibition of Ascites Tumour Growth by the Trypanocide, Ethidium Bromide, in Combination with Azaserine. Nature 195, 85 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/195085a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/195085a0
This article is cited by
-
Action du bromhydrate d'�thidium sur le d�veloppement du virus vaccinal dans des cellules en culture de rein de babouin
Archiv f�r die gesamte Virusforschung (1970)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.