Therapeutic trial of aniline mustard in patients with advanced cancer. Comparison of therapeutic response with cytochemical assessment of tumor cell beta-glucuronidase activity.

Seventy-eight patients with advanced cancer received an adequate therapeutic trial with aniline mustard (NSC 18429). Significant anticancer activity with clinical benefit was demonstrated in five patients with cancer of the prostate and one patient with renal cancer. beta-glucuronidase levels in aspirate and imprint preparations of tumor cells were assessed by a timed cytochemical technique. A partial correlation appeared to exist between very intense glucuronidase staining and tumor regression in prostate and kidney lesions; however, these high levels were observed only rarely. Sequential observations in two patients demonstrated loss of enzymatic activity concomitant with development of clinical relapse.