Antitumor Activity of ME2303, a Fluorine-containing Anthracycline, against Human Tumors Implanted in Nude Mice

Abstract
A fluorine-containing anthracycline, ME2303, given intravenously once a week for 4 weeks at the maximum tolerated dose showed better therapeutic effects against 2 gastric, 3 lung and 2 human breast tumor xenografts than did adriamycin (ADM) at the maximum tolerated dose. Among the tumors, ME2303 showed a better effect against St-40, a well-differentiated human gastric adenocarcinoma, against which ADM showed only a marginal effect. Likewise, ME2303 was more effective against Lu-24 human small cell carcinoma and MX-1 human medullary tubular adenocarcinoma than ADM. Notably, the Lu-24 tumor, developed in nude mice, disappeared after the treatment in 3 out of 6 mice. ME2303 would be an interesting compound for phase I and II clinical studies in the future.