Preliminary report on AT1727 as a potential radiosensitizer

AT1727 is a derivative of ICRF 154. The purpose of this study was to evaluate its "radiosensitizer" properties. From October 1979 until the end of December 1980, 89 patients with radiation resistant cancers such as soft tissue sarcoma, squamous lung cancer (with large lesion, 6-8 cm diameter) and other cancers had been included in trial. Radiation therapy was carried out using CO60 or 8 Mev Linac. Fifty-five patients had a remarkable objective remission rate of 61.8% (55/89). Eighteen of 30 patients with soft tissue sarcomas obtained obvious remission (60%), and 26 of 38 patients with lung cancer had remission (68.4%). Patients with esophageal cancer (5/6) and nasopharyngeal cancer (5/5) also had good remission rates. The side-effects of this treatment were very mild: anorexia and vomiting were noted in 50% and no significant changes were noted in liver and kidney function tests and blood platelet count. Leucopenia was slight in all but one patient. No difference in the lung fibrosis rate was noted between the two randomized groups. From the results of this study we concluded that AT1727 had some effect as a "radiosensitizer" but much more work is needed to confirm this.