Clinical trials of hydroxyurea in patients with cancer and leukemia

William N. Fishbein, Paul P. Carbone, Emil J. Freireich, Dwijendra Misra, Emil Frei

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hydroxyurea (HU) was studied in 53 patients with malignant disease. Toxicity at the tolerated dose of 25 to 50 mg. per kilogram (0.75 to 1.5 Gm. per square meter) was mainly myelosuppression and was rapidly reversible upon drug withdrawal. HU or its metabolites interfere with normal as well as leukemic hemopoietic cells. HU can produce beneficial effects in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) as manifested by a fall in white blood count, decrease in hepatosplenomegaly, improvement in anemia and M/E ratio, In patients with acute leukemia, HU regularly causes a decrease in leukemic cells, but rarely induces remission. No significant antitumor activity was seen in the 13 patients with nonleukemic neoplasms. From this study, it is suggested that the drug has potential application in the treatment of CML and for the rapid lowering of the high white blood cell count of patients with blastic crisis and acute leukemia. Studies pertaining to the mode of action of the drug are briefly reviewed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)574-580
Number of pages7
JournalClinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Volume5
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1964

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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