Clinical investigations of neocarzinostatin in Japan.
Neocarzinostatin (NCS) is an antibiotic from streptomyces carzinostaticus which inhibits DNA synthesis. Clinical trials in Japan began in 1971. NCS is active against S-180, Ehrlich tumor, L1210, Yoshida sarcoma, and a range of ascitic hepatomas. In rabbit NCS is distributed at high concentrations in the kidney, skin, stomach, pancreas, lung, and muscles. The high distribution in the pancreas and the stomach suggested possible effectiveness in human tumors at these sites. In clinical studies NCS has been shown to be active against acute leukemia. As a single agent 9 out of 51 obtained a CR with 9 more achieving a PR. Anorexia, nausea, and vomiting were the most frequent side effects. NCS has been tried in combination with Ara-C, daunorubicin and prednisolone and CR was ssen in 11 out of 14. In stomach cancer responses of some kind were observed in 12 out of 141 cases, while in the case of pancreatic tumors there were 10 out of 68.
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007564:Japan; D007700:Kinetics; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D009353:Zinostatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D009353:Zinostatin