The purpose of this study was to examine whether mitochondria could be used as a potential target for combination cancer chemotherapy. Mitochondrial specific agents, namely Dequalinium chloride and Rhodamine 123 were tested as single agent and in combination with cis-diammine dichloroplatinum (II). Combination of either cis-diammine dichloroplatinum (II) and Rhodamine 123 or cis-diammine dichloroplatinum (II) and Dequalinium chloride showed that there was a synergistic action. However, combination of Rhodamine 123 and Dequalinium chloride showed a slight antagonistic activity which could be due to competition for the same site. The data also show that a much lower dose of cisplatin is required to produce an equieffective-response when used in combination with Dequalinium chloride and thus may lower the cis-diammine dichloroplatinum (II) induced toxicities.

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