Table 1.
Summary of Current Chemotherapies.
| Reagent | Cancers | Mechanism | Single-agent use | Observed response rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dacarbazine (DTIC) | Melanoma, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma | DNA alkylating agent (methylates purine bases) | Yes; FDA approved (1975) | 10% to 20% 13 |
| Temozolomide (TMZ) | Melanoma, Glioblastoma | DNA alkylating agent (methylates purine bases) | No | 14% 28 |
| Fotemustine (FM) | Melanoma, Glioblastoma | DNA alkylating agent (methylates purine bases) | No | 15.2% (disseminated melanoma)30,31 |
| Carboplatin/Cisplatin | Several | DNA alkylating agent | No | 26.4% (combination), (phase II) 34 |
| Paclitaxel | Several | Tubulin stabilizer | No | 21.6%, (phase II) 35 |
| Tamoxifen | ER-positive or ER-negative breast cancer | Inhibits estrogen-mediated cell proliferation | No | 4.9% to 7% 39 |
| Doxorubicin | Several | Topoisomerase-2 inhibition, free radical generation | No | 0% to 10% (phase II) 43 |