Antitumor activity of benzaldehyde

Ninety patients with inoperable carcinoma in the terminal stages and 12 patients in serious condition with other tumor types were given benzaldehyde in the form of beta-cyclodextrin benzaldehyde inclusion compound (CDBA) orally or rectally at a daily dose of 10 mg/kg divided in four doses. Toxic effects, including hematologic or biochemical disturbances, were not seen during long-term successive administration of CDBA. Fifty-seven of the patients treated were evaluable; 19 patients responded completely and ten patients responded partially (greater than 50% regression). For all responding patients longer response durations were associated with longer CDBA treatment periods. Treatment of squamous cell carcinoma induced the cancer cells to change into a conglomeration of pearls (the well-known product of differentiation) which consisted of keratinized normal squamous cells.