Cancer research
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Diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) has been shown to inhibit nephrotoxicity induced by cis-platinum (DDP) without inhibition of tumor response in the rat. We report here that DDTC at doses of 25-300 mg/kg inhibits DDP-induced nephrotoxicity and bone marrow toxicity in C57BL/6 X DBA/2F1 (hereafter called B6D2F1) mice, F344 rats, and beagle dogs and is also antiemetic in the dog. DDTC doses which afford excellent protection do not decrease median survival time following DDP treatment in L1210 and P388 leukemias, B16 melanoma, and Lewis lung and colon 26 carcinomas in B6D2F1 mice when DDTC is given 2 h after DDP. ⋯ DDTC plasma pharmacokinetic values have been determined after s.c., i.p., and i.v. administration in the mouse, rat, and dog. Peak plasma levels of 0.3-1.2 mM are observed after a 250-mg/kg dose, with a plasma half-life of 10-20 min. Our data indicate that DDTC may provide protection against most clinically significant toxicities arising from cis-platinum at doses which do not inhibit tumor response.