The effect of
pentazocine, a non-
narcotic analgesic, on
Ehrlich ascites tumor cells was examined in vitro and in vivo. To test the in vitro effect of
pentazocine, Ehrlich
tumor cells suspended in
Hanks balanced salt solution (BSS, pH 7.4) supplemented with 2%
bovine albumin were incubated with various concentrations of the
drug (0.10-1.0 mM) at 37 degrees C for 120 min. After incubation, the
tumor cells in BSS were inoculated subcutaneously into the right flank of mice (10(6) cells/mouse). All mice given the
tumor cells incubated alone developed solid
tumor. However, no
tumor growth was observed in groups of mice given the
tumor cells pretreated with 0.3 or 1.0 mM
pentazocine. The in vivo effect of
pentazocine was then examined against Ehrlich
ascites carcinoma in mice. Mice inoculated intraperitoneally with Ehrlich
tumor cells in BSS (2 x 10(6) cells/mouse) were given various doses of
pentazocine (20-80 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally once a day for 5 successive days. The average survival time in a group of mice given the
tumor cells alone was about 19 days, and the survival time was about 29 days in a group of animals treated with
pentazocine in a dose of 80 mg/kg/day (p less than 0.01).