title: Clinical comparison of the nitrosoureas.
abstract: The nitrosourea group of antitumor agents was developed by the Division of Cancer Treatment of the National Cancer Institute. Three nitrosoureas (BCNU, CCNU, MeCCNU) have undergone extensive clinical trials, and two of them (BCNU, CCNU) will soon become commercially available. This paper briefly considers the preclinical development of the nitrosoureas and provides an overview and comparison of the extensive clinical data. Information is given regarding any clinical differences. We discuss general conclusions drawn from the nitrosourea development.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008130:Lomustine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D008770:Methylnitrosourea / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D008130:Lomustine; D002330:Carmustine