Mitoguazone (Methyl-GAG, MGBG) is an old investigational drug. It had shown activity against malignant lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease, as well as some squamous cancers, but with considerable toxic effects to many organ systems. Its unique mechanism of action and the likelihood that new schedules or drug combinations will prove useful have piqued interest in re-assessing its role.
Oxaliplatin is a platinum derivative that has had all its initial studies in France. It has no toxic effects on the kidney and causes minimal bone marrow depression. The only troublesome toxicity has been numbness and tingling in the extremities, but these feelings are diminished by timing the infusions to be given in the afternoon and are relieved by discontinuing the drug. Its activity against colorectal cancer when combined with 5-fluorouracil is generating a lot of interest.
Oxanthrazole derivatives are drugs bearing some chemical resemblance to the standard agents doxorubicin and mitoxantrone . One of the three derivatives under study has shown some activity in breast cancer. This derivative has been selected for widespread study.
PALA is an antimetabolite that proved too toxic when given by itself, but has shown some promising activity at low doses when combined with 5-fluorouracil for treating colorectal cancer.
