Abstract
Nitrosourea derivatives are widely used for the treatment of malignant brain tumors. ACNU [1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl) methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea hydrochloride] was used for the present experiment. The experimental brain tumor used was 20-methylcholanthrene induced malignant glioma of C57BL mice. 1) The growth of subcutaneously transplanted glioma was markedly inhibited with 10 mg/kg of ACNU and mostly disappeared with 10 mg/kg ACNU plus 1, 240 rads of X-ray irradiation. 2) The intracerebrally transplanted glioma mice survived 180% longer than control mice with 10 mg/kg of ACNU or 1, 240 rads of X-ray irradiation and 380% longer with 10 mg/kg ACNU plus 1, 240 rads X-ray irradiation. 3) Nitrosourea derivatives (ACNU or Me-CCNU) were used in the treatment of 50 patients with malignant glioma. The result of chemotherapy was evaluated by neurological examinations and CT-scan findings. The effect of nitrosourea derivatives were as follows: responders 10%, probable responders 30%, non-responders 60%. ACNU showed almost the same in effect to malignant glioma as Me-CCNU.
The chemotherapy combined with 5, 000 ?? 6, 000 rads of irradiation was more effective than chemotherapy alone, namely, responders 27.5%, probable responders 35%, non-responders 37.5%. The toxicity of ACNU was delayed reversible thrombocytopenia and leucopenia as other nitrosourea derivatives.
