The combined effect of fludarabine monophosphate and radiation as well as gemcitabine and radiation on squamous carcinoma tumor cell lines in vitro.

Despite proven antitumor activity of gemcitabine in chemoradiotherapy of advanced head and neck cancer, many authors refer to severe acute and late local and haematological toxicity. Fludarabine does imply nearly the same mechanisms of action as gemcitabine, inhibiting various enzymes involved in DNA replication. This investigation focuses on the combined effect of either fludarabine or gemcitabine and radiation on human squamous carcinoma cell lines in vitro, providing data for future decisions on head and neck chemoradiotherapy regimen.ZMK-1, A549, BW-225, GR-145, OH-65 and CaSki cell lines were incubated with either drug at defined schedules and irradiated at a single fraction dose of 2 …