title: Increases in leucocyte and platelet counts induced by the alkyl phospholipid hexadecylphosphocholine.
abstract: Hexadecylphosphocholine (HePC) is a new alkyl phospholipid that has been shown to have antitumour activity in vitro and in vivo. In vivo studies have shown absence of bone marrow toxicity at therapeutic doses. In addition, at the highest dosage group in rats, an increase in white blood cell counts (WBC) was observed. To study the presence of a similar phenomenon in man, frequent measurements of haematological parameters were performed in a series of phase II studies. 70 patients were treated with daily doses of 100-200 mg of the oral formulation of HePC. WBC and platelet counts were performed weekly. In a subgroup of 23 patients serum levels of haemopoietic growth factors were measured before and during treatment. A significant increase in WBC and platelet counts was seen in 74 and 73% of the patients, respectively. In 4 patients, bone marrow showed normal cellularity, and in 1 patient, bone marrow culture showed normal numbers and sizes of colony forming units. No abnormal levels or trends over time of cytokines were observed. We conclude that oral HePC induces an increase in WBC and platelet counts in the majority of those treated.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Oncology, Rotterdam Cancer Institute, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pronk
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Planting
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oosterom
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Drogendijk
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stoter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verweij
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D010976:Platelet Count; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D013922:Thrombocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; C039128:miltefosine