Cancer Chemotherapy Aimed At Potential Cell Regulators
- Frances E. Knock, MD, PhD;
- Raymond M. Galt, MD;
- Y. T. Oester, MD, PhD;
- Oliver V. Renaud, MD
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
Excerpt
To the Editor:— Marked toxic reactions to wound healing and marrow have plagued clinical cancer chemotherapy with drugs like the nitrogen mustards and fluorouracil attacking nucleic acids or depressing their synthesis. From recent data, sulfhydryl or SH groups on protein appear to play essential roles in regulatory processes from cell membranes to chromosomes.1-3 Nature herself may control cell division by regulating SH groups through use of the SH inhibitor retine.3 Clinically, selected SH inhibitors aimed at potential cell regulators have regressed a variety of human cancers with minimal injury to hematologic status or even improvement in some patients, and without injury to normal wound healing.1,2-4 Administration of the SH inhibitors is usually started 24 to 48 hours after major cancer surgery, such as radical mastectomy, radical hysterectomy, bowel resection, or pelvic exenteration.4
Two potent SH inhibitors of markedly different chemical design, oxophenarsine hydrochloride and iodoacetate, are now
