The new
cytostatics titanocene dichloride and
vinorelbine were compared to
cisplatin and
paclitaxel using a human
ovarian cancer xenografts model. Biopsy material from a native human ovarian
carcinoma was expanded and transplanted into 96 nude mice. The animals were divided into six treatment groups:
cisplatin 3 x 4 mg/kg,
paclitaxel 5 x 26 mg/kg,
vinorelbine 1 x 20 mg/kg,
titanocene dichloride 3 x 30 mg/kg,
titanocene dichloride 3 x 40 mg/kg and a control group treated with
0.9% saline. Each experiment was repeated with eight mice in each treatment group. Treatment groups were evaluated in terms of average daily increase in
tumor volume and average daily
body weight increase of nude mice based on slopes of least-square regressions performed on individual animals. The slope factors alpha and beta of the
body weight (alpha) and
tumor volume changes (beta) within each group during the course of an experiment were calculated. Both a statistically significant decrease (p<0.05) in the
body weight of the experimental animals (
cisplatin: alpha = -0.5163,
vinorelbine: alpha = -0.6598,
paclitaxel: alpha = -0.6746,
titanocene dichloride 3 x 30 mg/kg: alpha = -0.6259,
titanocene dichloride 3 x 40 mg/kg: alpha = -0.7758) and a significant reduction (p<0.05) of the increase in
tumor volume (
cisplatin: beta = 12.049,
vinorelbine: beta = 0.504,
paclitaxel: beta = -1.636,
titanocene dichloride 3 x 30 mg/kg: beta = 6.212,
titanocene dichloride 3 x 40 mg/kg: beta= -0.685) was shown in all treated groups compared to the control group (alpha = -0.1398; beta = 23.056). No significant weight changes were observed between the individually treated groups. A statistically significant reduction of the
tumor growth occured under
paclitaxel (beta = -1.636),
vinorelbine (beta = 0.504) and
titanocene dichloride medication 3 x 40 mg/kg (beta = -0.685), as compared to the group treated with
cisplatin (beta = 12.049). We found
titanocene dichloride to be as effective as
paclitaxel and more effective than
cisplatin.
Vinorelbine seems to be a very effective
antineoplastic agent exhibiting a significant higher
cytostatic effect than
cisplatin. Both
titanocene dichloride and
vinorelbine provide new therapeutic options in women with ovarian
carcinoma not responding to standard
chemotherapy.