FIGURE 5.

Valproic acid (VPA) prevents small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) tumour growth in combination with cyclophosphamide, vindesine and doxorubicin. Two human SCLC cell lines (H69 (a) and H146 (b)) were injected subcutaneously into severe combined immunodeficiency mice in 50% matrigel. Groups of at least six mice were tested in each experimental condition. When tumours reached a volume of 300–400 mm³, mice were administered with daily intraperitoneal injections of VPA (400 mg·kg⁻¹·day⁻¹) or PBS as a control. 3 days after the first VPA administration, intraperitoneal injections of cyclophosphamide (40 mg·kg⁻¹), vindesin (0.5 mg·kg⁻¹) and doxorubicin (3 mg·kg⁻¹) were performed (at days 14 and 17, and days 8, 13, 25 and 34 for H69 and H146, respectively (arrows)). The tumour volume (in cubic millimetres) is presented as means±sd and was calculated at regular intervals of time. There is a statistical significant difference according to the Student's t-test: **: p<0.01 for VAC+VPA versus VAC only treatments.