Reappraisal of the use of procarbazine in the treatment of lymphomas and brain tumors Journal Article
| Authors: | Armand, J. P.; Ribrag, V.; Harrousseau, J. L.; Abrey, L. |
| Article Title: | Reappraisal of the use of procarbazine in the treatment of lymphomas and brain tumors |
| Abstract: | Procarbazine HCl is a 'nonclassical' oral alkylating anticancer agent that was first synthesized in the late 1950s. It has been used in the treatment of many cancers, but its main use is in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma and brain tumors and, to a lesser extent, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and primary central nervous system lymphoma. Procarbazine is a prodrug that undergoes metabolic transformation into active intermediates that are thought to inhibit DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. Early use of procarbazine in combination with mechlorethamine, vincristine, and prednisone (MOPP) was effective in the treatment of advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma, but late toxic effects such as secondary cancer and infertility led to its replacement by other regimens. However, its recent reintroduction in the dose-intensified BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) regimen has yielded very promising findings. Procarbazine alone, or more commonly combined in the PCV (procarbazine, lomustine [CCNU], and vincristine) regimen, is also effective in treating gliomas comprising astrocytomas, glioblastomas, and oligodendrogliomas. The most common side effects of procarbazine are gastrointestinal disturbances, myelosuppression, and central nervous system effects. In conclusion, the use of procarbazine in combination with other drugs means that it remains a major anticancer drug in the management of Hodgkin's lymphoma and gliomas. © 2007 Dove Medical Press Limited. All rights reserved. |
| Keywords: | unclassified drug; prednisone; paresthesia; review; cisplatin; doxorubicin; monotherapy; nonhuman; side effect; solid tumor; primary central nervous system lymphoma; brain tumor; glioma; antineoplastic agent; carboplatin; dacarbazine; unindexed drug; anemia; bone marrow suppression; hemolysis; etoposide; gastrointestinal symptom; leukopenia; nausea; thrombocytopenia; vomiting; lung cancer; combination chemotherapy; alkylating agent; cyclophosphamide; vincristine; drug synthesis; chlormethine; lomustine; procarbazine; vinblastine; hodgkin disease; central nervous system; insomnia; depression; vincristine sulfate; food; acute leukemia; nonhodgkin lymphoma; hodgkin's lymphoma; non-hodgkin's lymphoma; rna synthesis; glioblastoma; lymphoma; single drug dose; bleomycin; epirubicin; vindesine; oligodendroglioma; weakness; headache; drug absorption; drug blood level; drug half life; drug metabolite; tremor; astrocytoma; brain hemorrhage; hypersensitivity reaction; drug excretion; lung infiltrate; tioguanine; dna synthesis inhibition; drug use; nervousness; protein synthesis inhibition; prodrug; drug indication; azoospermia; eosinophilia; adrenergic receptor stimulating agent; anesthetic agent; glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency; barbituric acid derivative; female genital system function; azoprocarbazine; benzyazoxyprocarbazine; decongestive agent; mitolactol; nimustine; drug transformation; hypertensive crisis |
| Journal Title: | Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management |
| Volume: | 3 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| ISSN: | 1176-6336 |
| Publisher: | Dove Medical Press Ltd |
| Date Published: | 2007-01-01 |
| Start Page: | 213 |
| End Page: | 224 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.2147/tcrm.2007.3.2.213 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PMCID: | PMC1936303 |
| PUBMED: | 18360630 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "Source: Scopus" |
