A comparative study of the effect of adriamycin on the sensitivity of mice to whole-body irradiation with 6-MVp photons or fast neutrons (67 MeV p → Be)

The effect of Adriamycin (doxorubicin hydrochloride) (10 mg/kg intraperitoneally) on the response of mouse gut to irradiation with 6-MVp photons or fast neutrons (67 MeV p → Be), was assessed with the six-day death endpoint. The drug reduced the LD(50/6) by the same factor (~1.25) for both types of radiation. Thus, the radiobiological effectiveness (RBE) (photons/neutrons) for gut damage is unaltered by the addition of Adriamycin. The data indicate no significant effect of drug scheduling if given within 16 hours before or after irradiation.