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Antineoplastons (PDQ®)

  • Last Modified: 04/09/2013

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NCI Highlights

Adverse Effects

Adverse effects of antineoplaston therapy have ranged from mild and short-lasting symptoms to severe neurologic toxicity necessitating discontinuation of therapy in some patients.[1]

Table 3 summarizes the adverse effects in the referenced studies.

Table 3. Adverse Effects
Adverse Effect Reference 
aThe most severe adverse effects occurred in this study, which reported neurologic toxic effects such as excessive somnolence, somnolence plus confusion, and increased frequency of underlying focalmotorseizures; increased cerebral edema; and persistent confusion. In addition, the study reported myalgia, severe cutaneouserythema, pruritus, and anasarca of the extremities and face.
Anemia [2,3]
Blood pressure elevation[4,5]
Dizziness or vertigo[6,7]
Excess abdominal gas[4,8]
Fever and chills[2,5-7,9-11]
General malaise with and without anorexia[2,4]
Headaches[1,4,6,7]
Hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia[2,5]
Increased thickness of epidermis associated with skin peeling and faster-than-usual growth of nails[11]
Maculopapular or itchy skin rash[2,4,5,8]
Mild myelosuppression[5,8,12]
Nausea and vomiting[1,2,5-7]
Neurocortical toxicity, severe[1]a
Numbness[2]
Palpitations, tachycardia, or pressure in the chest with irregular heartbeat[4,11,1,7]
Peripheral edema, facial edema, cerebral edema[1,4]
Swelling, pain, or stiffness of small joints[4,8,10,11]

References
  1. Buckner JC, Malkin MG, Reed E, et al.: Phase II study of antineoplastons A10 (NSC 648539) and AS2-1 (NSC 620261) in patients with recurrent glioma. Mayo Clin Proc 74 (2): 137-45, 1999.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  2. Burzynski SR, Lewy RI, Weaver RA, et al.: Phase II study of antineoplaston A10 and AS2-1 in patients with recurrent diffuse intrinsic brain stem glioma: a preliminary report. Drugs R D 4 (2): 91-101, 2003.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  3. Burzynski SR, Janicki TJ, Weaver RA, et al.: Targeted therapy with antineoplastons A10 and AS2-1 of high-grade, recurrent, and progressive brainstem glioma. Integr Cancer Ther 5 (1): 40-7, 2006.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  4. Tsuda H, Hara H, Eriguchi N, et al.: Toxicological study on antineoplastons A-10 and AS2-1 in cancer patients. Kurume Med J 42 (4): 241-9, 1995.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  5. Burzynski SR, Burzynski B, Mohabbat MO: Toxicology studies on antineoplaston AS2-1 injections in cancer patients. Drugs Exp Clin Res 12 (Suppl 1): 25-35, 1986.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  6. Burzynski SR, Kubove E: Toxicology studies on antineoplaston A10 injections in cancer patients. Drugs Exp Clin Res 12 (Suppl 1): 47-55, 1986.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  7. Burzynski SR, Kubove E: Phase I clinical studies of antineoplaston A3 injections. Drugs Exp Clin Res 13 (Suppl 1): 17-29, 1987.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  8. Sugita Y, Tsuda H, Maruiwa H, et al.: The effect of Antineoplaston, a new antitumor agent on malignant brain tumors. Kurume Med J 42 (3): 133-40, 1995.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  9. Burzynski SR, Stolzmann Z, Szopa B, et al.: Antineoplaston A in cancer therapy. (I). Physiol Chem Phys 9 (6): 485-500, 1977.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  10. Burzynski SR: Toxicology studies on antineoplaston AS2-5 injections in cancer patients. Drugs Exp Clin Res 12 (Suppl 1): 17-24, 1986.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  11. Burzynski SR, Kubove E, Burzynski B: Phase I clinical studies of antineoplaston A5 injections. Drugs Exp Clin Res 13 (Suppl 1): 37-43, 1987.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  12. Burzynski SR, Weaver RA, Janicki T, et al.: Long-term survival of high-risk pediatric patients with primitive neuroectodermal tumors treated with antineoplastons A10 and AS2-1. Integr Cancer Ther 4 (2): 168-77, 2005.  [PUBMED Abstract]