Enhancement of In Vitro Activity Against Neuroblastoma by Doxrubicin and Deferoxamine

Abstract

A colorimetric assay was used to compare the in vitro effects on neuro-blastoma cell viability of 3.75-60 fiM deferoxamine or 0.125-2 fiM doxoru-bicin alone with those of the two drugs in combination. For each of two human neuroblastoma cell lines (CHP 100 and CHP 126), exposure to each drug individually produced dose-related cy-totoxic effects within 3 days. When these cells were simultaneously exposed to both drugs, even at concentrations achievable in vivo, cell death was greater than what could be accounted for by either drug alone. Cytotoxicity was further potentiated to a variable extent when the cells were sequentially exposed to deferoxamine and doxoru-bicin at 24-hour intervals. Thus, this combination of drugs warrants further study. [J Natl Cancer Inst 81:866–870, 1989]