Sarkomycin, an antibiotic produced by Streptomyces erythrochromogenes and reported from Japan as having some carcinostatic activity, was given a therapeutic trial in 26 patients with various types of disseminated cancer. Therapy consisted of a total dose of 26–212 gm. intravenously given over a period of 6–42 days.

Significant objective response to therapy was not observed in any of the patients. Five of the 26 subjects noted some subjective improvement during and for short periods after therapy. Side effects were not serious, but were common and distressing in that twenty patients had repeated episodes of local phlebothromboses or thrombo-phlebitis, and thirteen had significant nausea and vomiting.

It is concluded that Sarkomycin, at least the crude preparation available for this study, is without appreciable therapeutic value in disseminated cancer.

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These studies were supported by grants from the American Cancer Society, the United States Public Health Service, the Damon Runyon Memorial Fund for Medical Research, the Lasker Foundation, and the Grant Foundation.

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