Classifying cytostatics on the basis of their angiocidal and angiostatic effects

: This study describes the effects of ten clinically used cytostatics [bleomycin (BLM), cytarabine (Ara-C), cyclophosphamide (CTX), doxorubicin (DOX), etoposide (VP-16), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), methotrexate (MTX), mitoxantrone (MXN), vincristine (VCR), and vinblastine (VLB)] on the chorioallantoic membrane vessels--especially on vessel counts--and on the weight of the chicken embryo. A significant reduction of vessel counts (VC) due both to angiocidal and an angiostatic action, was induced by DOX, MXN, VP-16, VCR, and VLB. 5-FU and BLM induced only a (weak) angiostatic effect. MTX, Ara-C, and CTX were neither angiocidal nor angiostatic. The classification of cytostatics presented here might have implications for their use in the clinical treatment of malignant tumors.