Among these have been immunosuppression, teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, cytotoxicity with mitotic suppression and chromatin derangement, and an antineoplastic effect against a spectrum of transplanted tumors in mice and rats. The major drug toxicities in acute and chronic animal studies were hematologic with granulocyte depression, thrombocyte depression, anemia and hemolysis. Reticuloendothelial system lymphocytic depletion, marrow cell depression, testicular atrophy and mucous membrane ulceration were further evidence of in vivo cytotoxicity. Distribution of the drug in body fluids, studied in dog and man, shows rapid equilibration between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid after oral administration. Pharmacological studies indicated excellent gastrointestinal absorption.
Procarbazine is metabolized mainly by the liver.
The half-life of elimination is approximately 1 hour. The palliative management of Hodgkin's disease. Although prolongation of survival time may not be evident, amelioration of the disease symptoms and regression of tumors have been demonstrated frequently. The drug should be used as an adjunct to standard modalities of therapy. Procarbazine may also be useful in other advanced reticuloses and a variety of solid tumors which have proven resistant to other forms of therapy.