Influence of mesna and cysteine on the systemic toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of activated cyclophosphamide.

Presumably the coadministration of the uroprotector mesna in cyclophosphamide treatment does not influence the systemic activity of its activated metabolite. This was newly investigated in a mouse model. The LD50 values of i.p. administered mafosfamide, a derivative of act. CP, were increased by the simultaneous i.p. administration of mesna (mafosfamide: mesna 1:2 on a molar weight basis) from 590 mg/kg to 750 mg/kg, and after i.v. injection of cytostatic and thiol from 505 mg/kg to 810 mg/kg. Administration of 2 X molar cysteine i.v. or i.p. to mafosfamide-treated animals was even more effective against its lethal toxicity (LD50 i.p. 1800 mg/kg and i.v. 1130 mg/kg). Bone marrow toxicity (severe leukocytopenia) was partially abolished by both thiols. Also the therapeutic efficacy of act. CP against L1210 leukemia in DBA2 mice was reduced by 50% in the presence of cysteine and of mesna. Compared with mesna the higher detoxification effect of cysteine is attributed to its longer half-life (t1/2 20 min vs 12 min of mesna) and presumably an accumulation of cysteine in some cell systems (distribution coefficient 1.20 ml/g vs 0.68 ml/g of mesna). Nevertheless, our study clearly demonstrates a distinct systemic deactivation of act. CP by mesna, which might be of clinical relevance.