Basic and clinical evaluation of the effect of pirarubicin against head and neck cancer - Chemosensitivity test and a comparative study with doxorubicin

The chemosensitivities of 77 samples of human head and neck cancer were examined by in vitro succinate dehydrogenase inhibition (SDI) test. The tumor tissues obtained at biopsy specimens were exposed to doxorubicin (DXR) and pirarubicin (THP). The average decrease of the enzyme activity by THP was significantly greater than that by DXR. In 60 cases of squamous cell carcinomas, the chemosensitivity of poorly differentiated type tended to be higher compared to the well differentiated type. It is suggested from there results that THP is a more effective anticancer drug than DXR against human head and neck cancers. Clinically good responses were obtained in a systemic chemotherapy of such as head and neck adenoid cystic carcinomas by combining THP with other anticancer drugs such as CDDP (or CBDCA) and CPA.