mitolactol and Rectal-Neoplasms

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Colonic Neoplasms; Drug Evaluation; Female; Humans; Leukopenia; Male; Middle Aged; Mitolactol; Rectal Neoplasms

In a phase II study dibromodulcitol (DBD), an alpha-omega dibrominated hexitol, was used to treat 99 previously treated patients with colon, rectal, kidney, and other tumors. Six patients were ineligible and 10 patients were nonevaluable for response. Aside from thrombocytopenia toxicity was moderate. Twenty-three patients had platelet nadirs of less than 50,000/mm3 and there were three thrombocytopenic-associated drug deaths. One of 21 rectal and 1 of 13 kidney cancer patients entered a remission. All but seven patients had received previous treatment with one or more cytotoxic agents. Previously treated patients with colorectal and kidney cancer appear to be resistant to DBD.

Topics: Aged; Colonic Neoplasms; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Evaluation; Drug Resistance; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Leukopenia; Middle Aged; Mitolactol; Rectal Neoplasms; Thrombocytopenia

Co-operative investigation of clinical therapy for cancer is used to test hypotheses developed in single institutions and in animal research laboratories. The present studies in a large co-operative organization, the Central Oncology Group, are being conducted in seven major solid tumors in adults; in these studies patients with a poor surgical prognosis are being treated with preoperative or postoperative chemotherapy, preoperative radiotion therapy of these modalities. Results of studies currently underway or recently completed in 1,278 patients are summarized. In most instances, the research has demonstrated little or no apparent improvement in the disease free interval or the survival time from adjuvant therapy, although only on of the studies has been completed and fully evaluated thus far. In carcinoma of the colon and rectum and melanoma, mild toxicity from drug therapy has been associated with statistically significant improvement in survival times. These studies have produced base line information on disease free intervals, time to progression and survival time in patients with cancer who are seen in the participating institutions. These observations are expected to useful in the planning of future adjuvant studies.

Topics: Adult; Altretamine; Antineoplastic Agents; Bone Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms; Carmustine; Colonic Neoplasms; Cyclophosphamide; Dacarbazine; Doxorubicin; Drug Evaluation; Female; Fluorouracil; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Lomustine; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Melanoma; Mitolactol; Neoplasms; Osteosarcoma; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Rectal Neoplasms; Vincristine