S E Aghahowa

Background Cancer have been a global problem irrespective of the etiology. Drugs and related agents have been identified to cause cancer by the induction of the markers. The study therefore accesses the possibility of cancer marker induction by artesunate-mefloquine in albino rats. Method Healthy albino rats were selected after acclimatization for two weeks. They are grouped in the categories of induction and drug exposure. Induction: Mesterolone (0.36mg/kg), Disethylstibesterol (0.07mg/kg), Artesunate mefloquine (8.57/10.71mg/kg). These agents were administered orally using orogastric tube for 28 days. They were sacrificed under chloroform anesthesia. Serum samples were collected and assay for the possibility of cancer marker induction or inhibition by artesunate mefloquine. The indicators of markers were as follows: breast cancer marker: cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), liver cancer marker: prostate specific antigen (PSA), ovarian cancer marker: cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) and liver cancer marker: Alfa fetoprotein (AFP). Results Prostate cancer marker (PSA) has the following results: standard concentration was (9.5 ± 3.8188), mesterolone (positive control) (1.0707 ± 0.0089), olive oil (negative control) (0.961 ± 0.0191), quarter therapeutic dose (0.936 ± 0.0014), half therapeutic dose (0.935 ± 0.0007) and therapeutic dose (0.9423 ± 0.0055). Elevations of PSA within the treatment groups were seen in the order: TD > 1/2 TD > 1/4 TD. Ovarian cancer marker (CA 125) has the following result: standard concentration was (127.5 ± 61.9643), diethylstibesterol (positive control) (4.4 ± 0.1702), olive oil (negative control) (2.8697 ± 0.0366), quarter therapeutic dose (-0.5423 ± 0.1766), half therapeutic dose (-0.0077 ± 0.2643) and therapeutic dose (0.237 ± 0.2391). Elevations of CA 125 within the treatment groups were seen in the order: TD > 1/2 TD > 1/4 TD. Breast cancer marker (CA 15-3) has the following result: standard concentration was (125 ± 62.703), diethylstibesterol (positive control) (6.9453 ± 0.0554), olive oil (negative control) (6.2943 ± 0.2404), quarter therapeutic dose (0.275 ± 0), half therapeutic dose (1.259 ± 0.2981) and therapeutic dose (2.0617 ± 0.3829). Elevations of CA 15-3 within the treatment groups were seen in the order: TD > 1/2 TD > 1/4 TD. Liver cancer marker (AFP) has the following result: standard concentration was (96.6667 ± 152.927), water (negative control) (6.5163 ± 0.7044), quarter therapeutic dose (1.339 ± 0.5872), half therapeutic dose (5.4387 ± 3.9322) and therapeutic dose (2.3537 ± 0.2696). Elevations of AFP within the treatment groups were seen in the order: 1/2 TD > TD > 1/4 TD. None of the animals died in the group during the course of the study. Conclusion Findings in this study has shown that therapeutic and sub-therapeutic doses (half therapeutic and quarter therapeutic doses) of artesunate-mefloquine have the possibility of decreasing cancer markers with variations in the different doses.