The Effect of Actinomycin D on Childhood Neoplasms

Abstract

Actinomycin D is an antibiotic which was isolated from cultures of Streptomyces parvallus by Manaker et al.,¹ in 1954. In 1957, Bullock and Johnson² elucidated the structure of this compound (Fig. 1). Actinomycin D has been shown to inhibit bacterial growth,^3-5 to produce cytotoxic changes in tissue cultures of neoplastic cells,⁶ and to have antineoplastic activity against several animal tumors.^7-9 In human trials, regressions of Wilms' tumors, neuroblastomas, embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas, and other childhood sarcomas have been reported.^10-12 An occasional antitumor response has been noted in adult patients with malignancies, but the results in this age group have generally been disappointing.^11,13,14 Actinomycin D is of interest in cancer chemotherapy for several reasons. On a weight basis, it is the most active antitumor agent now available. The structural formula of this agent is unrelated to any other type of antitumor agent now known, indicating that