quelamycin and Neoplasms

It is concisely described the dedication of the author during the last thirty years to the study of the nature, cause and treatment of cancer through the investigation by his group of the energy metabolism of tumors. It is defined the precise responsibility of the author in the discoveries of the second site of control of glycolysis, rotenone tumors, quelamycin and thioproline, filamentous mitochondria, and the technique of cancer reversal by dual strategy.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Doxorubicin; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Mitochondria; Neoplasms; Rotenone; Thiazoles; Thiazolidines; Uncoupling Agents

Quelamycin is triferric doxorubicin, a metallic derivative of adriamycin which, in experimental studies, has been found to have a better therapeutic index than adriamycin and no cardiotoxicity. In Spain, phase I clinical trials carried out in 96 patients with advanced cancer have shown that the drug has low toxicity and considerable antitumor activity, while it is not cardiotoxic, even at cumulative doses of nearly 3 g.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Doxorubicin; Drug Evaluation; Female; Ferric Compounds; Humans; Male; Neoplasms

Quelamycin (triferric doxorubicin) is a derivative of Adriamycin with different pharmacologic properties. Our phase I clinical study of quelamycin includes 37 patients with a wide spectrum of solid tumors. The recommended dose in good-risk patients is 150 mg/m2, given as a 1-hour infusion every 3 weeks. The dose-limiting factor appears to be myelosuppression, especially leukopenia. Other toxic effects include gastrointestinal intolerance and alopecia. Chills and fever are commonly encountered and might be due to an excess of free iron in currently available preparations. Cardiotoxicity could not be properly assessed. An objective antitumor effect was seen in patients with lung, gastric, colon, and ovarian carcinomas as well as osteogenic sarcoma. Further preclinical and clinical studies with an improved pharmaceutic formulation of the drug are highly desirable.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Doxorubicin; Drug Evaluation; Female; Ferric Compounds; Humans; Kinetics; Male; Mice; Middle Aged; Neoplasms

Topics: Alopecia; Doxorubicin; Drug Evaluation; Humans; Neoplasms; Neutropenia