Human colon cancer cells were implanted s.c. in nude mice. After 6 days, the mice were divided into four groups, 10 in each. During the first 5 days, the first and second groups were injected i.p. with leucovorin (LV)/5-fluorouracil (FU), and the third and fourth groups with sterile saline solution. During the subsequent 14 days, groups 1 and 4 received continuous i.p. infusion with sterile saline solution, while groups 2 and 3 received octreotide, galanin and serotonin via an implanted osmotic pump. Tumour volumes diminished significantly in mice treated with both LV/FU and LV/FU-triple therapy, as compared with controls. Both volume and weight of the tumours in mice given LV/FU-triple therapy were less than in those received LV/FU. The volume and weight of the tumours in animals treated with triple therapy was reduced as compared with controls, though not statistically significantly. The proliferation index, and the number of tumour blood vessels were both reduced, while the apoptotic index was increased in the mice treated with both LV/FU-triple therapy, and with triple therapy only as compared with LV/FU-treated mice. The present study has shown that the anti-tumour efficacy and therapeutic efficacy of triple therapy with octreotide, galanin and serotonin is equivalent to LV/FU and that sequential treatment with both could be beneficial.

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