EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF ADULT T-CELL LEUKEMIA LYMPHOMA WITH A NOVEL ORAL ANTITUMOR AGENT, MST-16

Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) induced by human cell leukemia virus I is resistant to conventional therapy.Six patients with ATLL were treated with a new antitumor agent, MST-16, which is a derivative of bis(2,6-dioxopiperazine). Two patients achieved complete remission, lasting 12 months and more than 8 months, and 2 others partial remission, lasting 2 months and 6 weeks, respectively. The major toxicity was myelosuppression. Other toxicities were not severe and were well tolerable. Orally administered MST- 1 6 is a promising agent for the treatment of ATLL.