Clinical studies of aclacinomycin A (ACM)

Aclacinomycin A (ACM) is a new anthracycline antibiotic, isolated from Streptomyces galilaeus. This agent is presenting major chemical differences from the conventional anthracycline DNR and ADM, as a class II anthracyclines which inhibit more RNA than DNA. In clinical studies, good CR responses ranging about 30% in AML patients depend upon their background. Toxicities consisted of mainly upper GI tract and bone marrow. Cardiac toxicities, especially late cumulative effects are not reported. Some responses noted in malignant lymphomas and breast carcinoma, but needed further studies, including possibility of cross resistance and differentiation effects.