Research Area: Cancer, Metabolic Disease , Endocrinology
Biological Activity:
Human lymphoid cell lines were studied for leucovorin requirements to protect from methotrexate (MTX)-induced growth suppression. Over a 72h continuous exposure leucovorin provided better protection to the cell lines LAZ-007 and RAJI than to the cell lines CCRF-CEM and MOLT-4. [1]Leucovorin is a compound similar to folic acid, which is a necessary vitamin.  It has been around and in use for many decades. Leucovorin is a medication frequently used in combination with the chemotherapy drugs fluoruracil and methotrexate.  Leucovorin is a chemoprotectant, not a chemotherapy drug, however,  it is used in addition to these chemotherapy drugs to enhance anti cancer effects (with fluorouracil) or to help prevent or lessen side effects (with methotrexate). [2]