Restorative effect of muroctasin on leukopenia caused by anticancer chemotherapy in lung cancer. Comparative study by envelope method.
N2-[(N-Acetylmuramoyl)-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl]-N6-stearoyl-L-lysine (MDP-Lys(L18), muroctasin), a derivative of muramyl dipeptide, is known to have the activity to augment the number of white blood cells (WBC) via colony-stimulating factor. Muroctasin has been expected to be applied to leukopenia caused by anticancer chemotherapy. When WBC decreased to less than or equal to 3,000/mm3 after the 1st course of chemotherapy, 131 patients with lung cancer, who were previously classified by the combination regimens of chemotherapy, were enrolled in the study and randomized into 3 groups, 200 micrograms (H), 100 micrograms (L) and untreated control (C) groups. The patients were then subcutaneously treated once daily for 6 consecutive days. WBC and its differential count were measured on Days 4, 7 and 15 after commencement of the study. WBCs in H and L groups were recovered greater than in C group. In WBC differential count, the recovery of neutrophil was prominent in muroctasin treated groups. The portion of immature neutrophil in the bone marrow was also increased by muroctasin treatment. A restorative effect on WBC and neutrophil counts was also confirmed only in the second course of H group. On the other hand, fever and pain in the injected site as side effects were common in the H group and L group in both of courses. In this study, the usefulness of muroctasin in leukopenia was suggested when administered at dosages of 200 micrograms for 6 days.
Fukuoka
M
M
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Prefectural Habikino Hospital, Japan.
Takada
M
M
Takifuji
N
N
Sakai
N
N
Ryu
S
S
Masuda
N
N
Matsui
K
K
Negoro
S
S
Kusunoki
Y
Y
Tubura
E
E
D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine; C036866:romurtide