The combined effect of cucurbitacins and X-ray treatment on transplanted tumors in mice.

tion has been obtained by treating tumor-bearing mice with elatericin A, elatericin B, elaterin, and elaterin methyl ether—all chemically well-defined cucurbitacins isolated from Ecballium elateriuin or their synthetic derivatives (5, 6, 7, 11). Bane et al. (1) reviewed the subject of combined therapy of malignant tumors with Roentgen radiation and chemo therapeutic agents. It appeared that certain compounds, such as some alkylating agents, produced synergistic effects when combined with X-rays (13) ; however, the re suits obtained with other substances, for example colchi cine, were inconclusive (8). The present study was under taken in order to examine the possible additive or syn ergistic effects on mouse tumors of cucurbitacins adminis tered with X-rays.