Studies on the treatment of malignant tumors with fibroblast-inhibiting agents Part Ⅳ. Effects of chloroquine on human tumors

An fibroblast-inhibiting agent, chloroquine was administered to cancer patients and the following results were obtined. 1) Chloroquine diphosphate and chloroquine diorotate was given to 54 patients with histologically proven cancers of these it was effective in 38, non-effective in 15 and unknown in 1. The drug was particularly effective in lung cancer (12/13) and bladder cancer (6/8). In effective cases, there were alleviation of pain and improvement anemia, blood sedimention rate, serum protein and serum iron. Tumor regression often occurred and histologically, tendency of tumor necrosis and inhibition of interstitial connective tissue were observed. 2) The side effects of chloroquine were silght and 8 of 54 patients treated showed slight gastrointestinal, neurological or eye complaints. Hematopoiesis was not impaired. 3) The mechanism of action of this agent seems to be in the inhibition of cancer stromal connective tissue, anti-inflamatory and constiutional humoral effects. 4) Therefore, the indication of this drug includes inoperable cases, pre-and post-operative cases, especially in those who failed to respond to ordinary anti-cancer agents.