[New antitumor antimetabolites--gemcitabine and DMDC].
Gemcitabine (dFdC) and DMDC are new antimetabolites with good antitumor activities against various tumors which include human leukemic cell lines and a number of rodent and human solid tumors and human tumor. They are structurally related to cytarabine (Ara-C) which is known as one of the most effective drugs against adult acute leukemia, but many solid tumors are insensitive not been found to the drug. Gemcitabine acts as an inhibitor of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase and inhibits DNA synthesis. Biochemically Gemcitabine is rapidly phosphorylated to dFdCTP which has a comparatively longer half-life than that of Ara-C, showing a therapeutic activity against tumors. In the phase I trials, the reported maximum-tolerated doses were 790 mg/m2 to 1370 mg/m2 at the schedule of 30 minutes i.v. infusion once a week for three weeks but higher dose levels (2,500 mg/m2 to 4,800 mg/m2) were reported in the schedule of prolongation of the infusion time. Reported toxicities were myelosuppression, fatigability, fever, appetite loss and skin rash. Toxicities were seemed to be mild. In USA, Europe and South Africa, phase II trials of Gemcitabine at the schedule of 30 minutes infusion once a week for three weeks followed by one week rest were performed against solid tumors (breast cancer, ovarian cancer, renal cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreas cancer, head and neck cancer, and lung cancer) and showed good responses to those tumors. DMDC was developed in Japan, and a phase I trial is currently on-going.