INVITRO ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF CYTOTOXIC DRUGS UPON THE INTESTINAL-ABSORPTION OF NUTRIENTS IN RATS

The effect of anti-cancer drug pretreatment on the rate of uptake of various 14C-labelled nutrients has been investigated using intestinal everted sac preparations. The cytotoxic drugs decreased the efficiency of the barrier to passive penetration of the intestine by the nutrients. The rate of uptake of all nutrients except monopalmitic acid was reduced by a decrease in active absorption. There was no significant difference in tryptophan uptake between methotrexate or 5-fluorouracil pretreated animals. It was concluded that cytotoxic drugs reduce intestinal absorption by inhibiting carriers involved in active-transport" mediated uptake. © 1979."