Solid tumor chemotherapy: What have we to offer

7-Chloro-4-(phenylselanyl) quinoline reduces renal oxidative stress induced by oxaliplatin in mice

The object of this study was to evaluate the relationship between oxidative damage induced by oxaliplatin (OXA) and the therapeutic potential of 7-chloro-4-(phenylselanyl) quinoline (4-PSQ) in kidney of mice. Mice received OXA (10 mg/kg) or vehicle intraperitoneally (days 0 and 2). Oral administration of 4-PSQ (1 mg/kg) or vehicle was performed on days 2 to 14. On day 15 the animals were euthanized and the kidneys and blood were collected. The effect of OXA and (or) 4-PSQ on urea, thiobarbituric acid reactive species, nonprotein thiol (NPSH), and protein carbonyl (PC) levels were investigated. Moreover, renal superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALA-D), and Na⁺,K⁺ ATPase activities were evaluated. Our findings revealed an increase on urea levels and significant renal oxidative damage in OXA-induced mice. OXA exposure increased SOD, GPx, and GST activities and caused a reduction on NPSH levels and CAT and GR activities. Na⁺,K⁺ ATPase and δ-ALA-D activities were reduced by OXA. 4-PSQ decreased plasmatic urea levels and renal oxidative damage. SOD, GPx, CAT, GR, and Na⁺,K⁺ ATPase activities were restored by 4-PSQ. 4-PSQ may be a good prototype for the treatment of OXA-induced renal injury.

Systemic chemotherapy of advanced head and neck malignancies

Several Phase II chemotherapy protocols were evaluated in patients with advanced malignancies; 158 were evaluable head and neck cases. The protocols were as follows: five-drug combination (COMFP), four-drug (COMF), (CCNU, Adriamycin, DTIC, and cytosine arabinoside. Insufficient numbers and data were received to adequately evaluate Yoshi 864, 5 Azacytidine, porfiromycin, BCNU, and Azaserine. Significant responses to therapy were noted in the four and five-drug combinations in which 30-44% of the patients had 50% or greater regression, with an average duration of 2.2 months. Adriamycin and CCNU demonstrated lesser antitumor effects, while DTIC and cytosine arabinoside did not demonstrate significant antitumor activity in the head and neck areas. Usual toxicity consisted largely of nausea and vomiting, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Alopecia was not pronouced in Adriamycin-treated patients. It appears that combination chemotherapy had a higher response rate compared to single agents used in the different cooperative protocols.