The influence of sodium ascorbate, menadione sodium bisulfite or pyridoxal hydrochloride on the toxic and antineoplastic action of N-methylformamide in P 388 leukemia or M 5076 sarcoma in mice.

The toxicity of daily subcutaneously applied 500 mg/kg N-methylformamide (NMF) during a period of 8 days in female CD-mice was ameliorated when 100 mg/kg sodium ascorbate, 60 mg/kg menadione bisulfite or 80 mg/kg pyridoxal hydrochloride were applied simultaneously. The comparison of the daily s.c. application of 360 mg/kg NMF with the intermittent s.c. injection of 720 mg/kg NMF with an interval of 48 h in P 388 leukemia showed that the daily application of NMF induced an increase of life span of 82% whereas the intermittent schedule effected a 142% increase of life span. The simultaneous combination of 360 mg/kg NMF with 60 mg/kg sodium ascorbate applied daily caused a 133% increase of life span and the simultaneous combination of 360 mg/kg NMF with 30 mg/kg menadione sodium bisulfite lead to a 126% increase of life span. The combined daily s.c. application of 360 mg/kg NMF with 30 mg/kg pyridoxal hydrochloride induced only a minimal difference compared to the daily application of 360 mg/kg NMF alone. The combination of 720 mg/kg NMF with 120 mg/kg sodium ascorbate applied in intervals of 48 h showed a 164% increase of life span. In advanced M 5076 sarcoma the daily s.c. application of 360 mg/kg NMF effected a 82% increase of life span and the combination of 360 mg/kg NMF with 60 mg/kg sodium ascorbate effected a 135% increase of life span.