Ukrain: a novel antitumor drug.

A review of the recent literature on the new anticancer drug Ukrain is provided herein. We review Ukrain, a thiophosphate derivative of alkaloids from Chelidonium majus L., its capacity to exert selective cytotoxic and cytostatic effects on tumor cells, simultaneously acting as an immune response modifier, its good tolerance and lack of side effects even after long-term application, perspectives of the application of this drug in oncology.

Clinical aspects of cancer treatment and new biochemical mechanisms of the drug Ukrain.

A random group of 50 patients in tumor stages T1-3N0-2M0 was selected from breast cancer patients and given Ukrain therapy by intravenous injection. Twenty-five patients received a total dose of 50 mg Ukrain (5 mg every second day, 10 injections altogether). Twenty-five patients received a total dose of 100 mg Ukrain (10 mg every second day, 10 injections altogether).

Comparative evaluation of blood plasma and tumor tissue amino acid pool in radiation or neoadjuvant preoperative therapies of breast cancer with the antitumor drug Ukrain.

This study comparatively evaluated free amino acid pool formation in patients with T1-3N0-2M0 breast cancer treated with the drug Ukrain (25 patients, i.v. 100 mg/course) in combination with preoperative radiation or neoadjuvant therapies (25 subjects, total dose 20 Gy).

Comparative evaluation of the efficiency of various Ukrain doses in the combined treatment of breast cancer. Report 1. Clinical aspects of Ukrain application.

This study was carried out in 75 patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer. Patients were divided into three groups of 25. The control group received symptomatic corrective therapy prior to mastectomy.

Comparison of the efficacy of different doses of Ukrain in the combined treatment of breast cancer.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of different Ukrain doses in the combined treatment of 75 patients with breast cancer. The patients were divided into three groups: groups I and II (25 patients each) were treated with 50 mg and 100 mg of Ukrain, respectively, before surgery; group III (25 patients) served as control (without Ukrain treatment). Clinical observations, biochemical, hormonal and immunologic indices indicated that both doses of Ukrain had a similar beneficial effect on patient outcome and may be indicated in the presurgical treatment of patients with breast cancer.

New biochemical mechanisms of the anticancer effect of Ukrain in the treatment of cancer of the urinary bladder.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of the anticancer effect of Ukrain by comparing the processes of formation of the pool of free amino acids and their derivatives in the blood plasma and tumor biopsy specimens and unchanged bladder tissue in 28 patients with T1N0M0 bladder cancer. The examination was carried out before and after Ukrain treatment (10 mg i.v.

Results of Ukrain monotherapy of prostate cancer.

This study included 15 patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer with an average age of 71 years (62-85 years). The patients received Ukrain at a total dose of 100 mg (10 mg intravenously every second day, 10 injections altogether). After two to three injections of Ukrain, all the patients noted considerable subjective improvements in their state.

The dynamics of concentration of the main fluorescent component of Ukrain in the tissues and blood plasma of rats with W-256 tumor after a single intravenous injection.

We determined the blood plasma and tissue concentrations of the main fluorescent component of free Ukrain after a single intravenous injection of this substance (0.25 mg/kg) to intact and carcinosarcoma W-256 bearing rats using ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescent detection. The plasma and tissue concentrations of Ukrain were lower than expected, assuming its uniform tissue distribution and first-order kinetics.

A method for determination of Ukrain in blood plasma for monitoring and pharmacokinetic study.

We developed a method using high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of the main fluorescent component of Ukrain, a novel antitumor and immune-stimulating drug. Our method was based on ion-pair separation of Ukrain from perchloric acid extracts using reversed-phase column, buffer with high molarity (0.5 M potassium phosphate, pH 2.

Evaluation of the efficacy of Ukrain in the treatment of breast cancer: clinical and laboratory studies.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different doses of Ukrain in the treatment of 75 breast cancer patients. Patients were divided into three groups. Group I (25 patients) and group II (25 patients) were treated with 50 mg and 100 mg Ukrain, respectively, before surgery.

Ukrain therapy of stage T1N0M0 bladder cancer patients.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of Ukrain as a new treatment modality in 28 patients with stage T1N0M0 bladder cancer. The tumor dimensions varied from 0.5 x 0.

Amino acids and their derivatives in tumour tissue from patients with breast cancer treated with Ukrain. Part VI.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of Ukrain on the amino acids pool and their derivatives in tumour tissue of ten patients with breast cancer, treated in the preoperative phase with Ukrain. The control group consisted of five patients of similar age and advancement of the disease, who did not receive Ukrain. The data obtained indicate that Ukrain influences cancerous tissue, as demonstrated at the level of amino acids.

Amino acids and their derivatives in blood plasma of patients with breast cancer treated with Ukrain. Part V.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of Ukrain on the free amino acids pool in blood plasma in ten patients with breast cancer, treated in the preoperative phase with the drug. The control group consisted of five patients of similar age and advancement of the disease, who did not receive Ukrain before mastectomy. The data obtained from these studies indicate that Ukrain positively influences the metabolism of amino acids and their derivatives.

Influence of Ukrain on patients with surgically treated breast cancer. Part IV. Electromicroscopic and cytochemical evaluation.

The present studies were undertaken to evaluate by light and by electron microscopy the influence of Ukrain on the morphology of breast cancer. The studies were carried out on material obtained from ten patients with breast cancer, treated preoperatively with Ukrain. Control material for the studies was obtained from patients of similar age and advancement of the disease, who did not receive Ukrain.

Influence of Ukrain on patients with surgically treated breast cancer. Part III. The immune system.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of Ukrain on immune parameters in ten patients with breast cancer, treated with the drug in the preoperative phase. The control group consisted of eight patients of similar age and advancement of the disease, who did not receive Ukrain before mastectomy. The data were compared with the parameters obtained in 15 healthy blood donors.

Influence of Ukrain on patients with surgically treated breast cancer. Part II. Hormonal profile.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of Ukrain on the hormonal status of ten patients with breast cancer, treated in the preoperative phase by Ukrain. A control group consisted of eight patients of similar age and advancement of the disease, who did not receive the drug before mastectomy. The data were compared to those obtained in ten healthy women of similar age.

Influence of Ukrain on patients with surgically treated breast cancer. Part I. Clinical and laboratory parameters.

Studies were undertaken to evaluate the influence of Ukrain on clinical and laboratory parameters in ten patients with breast cancer treated with the drug in the preoperative phase. The control group was composed of eight patients of similar age and advancement of the disease who did not receive Ukrain before mastectomy. Data from the present studies indicate that the drug is distinctly helpful from the surgical viewpoint by increasing tumour hardness and enlargement of metastatic lymph nodes.

Influence of Ukrain on patients with surgically treated breast cancer (introductory remarks).

Studies were undertaken to evaluate the influence of Ukrain on the postoperative period in patients with breast cancer. The group under Ukrain medication was comprised of 10 patients in stage T1-3NO-1MO. The control group was comprised of 22 patients in the same clinical and laboratory staging as those treated with Ukrain in the first year of postoperative follow-up metastatic lymph nodes were observed in one patient from the control group.