[Ranimustine]

In the clinical phase studies, ranimustine showed very excellent responses against chronic myelogenous leukemia, polycythemia vera and thrombocythemia, and moderate responses against lymphoma or myeloma. The feature of response was the long duration. In cases with CML, CR rate was 82% and maintained for 2-18 months by single administration. In a randomized controlled study, the efficacy of ranimustine was compared with that of busulfan in 77 evaluable previously untreated patients with CML. These included 40 patients for an MCNU group (M) and 37 for busulfan group (B). No difference was seen in the remission rate, crisis rate and survival. A significant difference was observed only in the period of CR. Ranimustine showed almost equal efficacy to that of busulfan but was superior to busulfan in patients who needed rapid responses. The side effects were mild and transient. Despite of its administration by intravenous injection, use of ranimustine seemed convenient, considering the long interval between treatments, being comparable in this respect with oral busulfan. Ranimustine, therefore, seems a very effective drug for myeloproliferative disorders.