Lonidamine (LNA) has been investigated both alone and in combination with different chemotherapeutic agents in various types of tumors at an advanced stage. Acute and long-term treatments were studied. LNA has been shown to be devoid of the most typical side effects of currently used chemotherapeutic agents. It has revealed a characteristic profile of side effects, comprising myalgia, photosensitivity and altered hearing. LNA alone, tested in a limited number of patients, produced a partial remission in one ovary adenocarcinoma and a stabilization in two breast carcinomas and one microcytoma. When used in’ combination with chemotherapeutic agents, it potentiated them, particularly in brain metastases and lung adenocarcinomas.

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The authors summarize the international clinical research performed on trazodone, underlying some pharmacodynamic and therapeutic features of the activity of the drug, the originality of its pharmacodynamic profile and the possibility of using trazodone in a wide range of primary or secondary depression subtypes. Available data also suggest that trazodone is safer than traditional antidepressants even when taken in overdose, possibly due to its mild effects on cardiac or ventilatory function.

31 patients with inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer were treated with Lonidamine at daily doses of 450–900 mg orally. Side effects mostly consisted of myalgias, often severe, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Lonidamine was discontinued in 8 patients because of tumor progression and in 2 on account of side effects. 3 partial responses were observed, 2 in patients with epidermoid tumors.

Lonidamine (LND) is a new anti-cancer drug which interferes with the energy-yielding processes of tumour cells without affecting DNA replication. A total of 69 previously untreated patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) entered this study. LND was given orally as a single agent at doses ranging from 450 to 900 mg day-1 until tumour progression (2 to greater than or equal to 1,402 days). Partial responses (PR) occurred in 7/69 patients (10.1%); 4/25, 1/27 and 2/9 for epidermoid, adenocarcinoma and large cell cancer respectively. PR by stage was 4/10, 1/3, 1/20 and 1/28 for stages I, II, III and IV, respectively. The median duration of response was 303 days (greater than or equal to 61 to greater than or equal to 338 days). The median survival for the whole group was 261 days. Toxicity was assessed in all patients. No myelosuppression occurred. The main side-effects were myalgia (68%), loss of appetite (23%), asthenia (20%) and testicular pain (13%). Doses above 450 mg day-1 produced more severe side-effects without any improvement in therapeutic activity.