[Oral antitumor drugs for hematological malignancies]

The oral antitumor drugs against hematological malignancies are summarized. Sobuzoxane, a topoisomerase II inhibitor, is useful for the treatment of lymphoma, especially adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma. Sobuzoxane has an effect to protect against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity. Cytarabine ocfosfate, a derivative of cytosine arabinoside, is a useful agent against acute leukemia and MDS, especially RAEB, RAEB in T, CMMoL. The JALSG AML 92 study for APL with all-trans retinoic acid resulted in a 89% CR rate in 196 and 64% 4-year DFS in CR cases. Hydroxycarbamide is can control the WBC in CML. This agent is also effective for other myeloproliferative disorders, such as acute leukemia and MDS. Oral administration of 50 mg etoposide daily showed a good outcome in old patients with malignant lymphoma. For old patients and those with refractory hematological malignancies, oral administration of these agents can offer a new form of palliative therapy to allow them to remain at home while maintaining a high quality of life.