Shi-quan-da-bu-tang (ten significant tonic decoction), SQT. A potent Chinese biological response modifier in cancer immunotherapy, potentiation and detoxification of anticancer drugs.

Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang (Ten Significant Tonic Decoction), or SQT (Juzentaihoto, TJ-48) was formulated by Taiping Hui-Min Ju (Public Welfare Pharmacy Bureau) in Chinese Song Dynasty in AD 1200. It is prepared by extracting a mixture of ten medical herbs (Rehmannia glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora, Liqusticum wallichii, Angelica sinesis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Poria cocos, Atractylodes macrocephala, Panax ginseng. Astragalus membranaceus and Cinnamomum cassia) that tone the blood and vital energy, and strengthen health and immunity.

Delivery of anticancer drugs.

Chemotherapy is a major therapeutic approach for the treatment of both localized and metastasized cancers. Since anticancer drugs are neither specific nor targeted to the cancer cells, improved delivery of anticancer drugs to tumor tissues in humans appears to be a reasonable and achievable challenge. Scientists are working to increase the availability of drug for tumor uptake by 1) delaying the release preparations for long-lasting actions; 2) using liposome-entrapped drugs for prolonged effect or reduced toxicity; 3) administrating inert, non-toxic prodrugs for specific activation at the tumor site; 4) delivering the antibody-mediated drugs; or 5) conjugating site-specific carriers to direct the drug to the tumor target.

Screening and evaluation of anticancer agents.

The screening and evaluation procedures for the development of anticancer agents indicated that the entire process is a rather difficult task. This is particularly true in choosing screening models and criteria for activity. If the criteria were set too low, then some clinically false-positive results may be faced; and if the criteria were set too high, some agents could be missed which might be effective against certain types of human cancer.

Structural modification study of mitoxantrone (DHAQ). Chloro-substituted mono- and bis[(aminoalkyl)amino]anthraquinones.

A number of chloro-substituted [(aminoalkyl)amino]anthraquinones were synthesized and evaluated for their antineoplastic and cytotoxic activity. Treatment of 5,8-dichloroquinizarin with substituted amines in pyridine resulted in the replacement of one halogen atom by the amino group to yield mainly 1-chloro-5,8-dihydroxy-4-(substituted amino)anthraquinones. On the other hand, reaction between the dichloroquinizarin and the amines in butanol gave predominantly 1,4-dichloro-5-hydroxy-8-(substituted amino)anthraquinones.

Amino-substituted p-benzoquinones.

Based on the observation of outstanding antineoplastic activity of a number of amino-substituted anthraquinones, thioxanthones, and N-(aminoethyl)-substituted naphthalimides, four types of amino-substituted p-benzoquinones were designed, synthesized, and their biological activity evaluated. Although none of these compounds exhibited inhibitory activity against P388 leukemia, 2,5-bis[[4-[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl]amino]-3,6-dibromo-1,4- benzoquinone and the corresponding dichloro compound demonstrated good inhibitory activity against the proliferating human colon adenocarcinoma in vitro. The dichloro compound was also found to be active against the leukemia L1210 screening in vitro.