Effect of desacetyl vinblastine amide (DVA) against human sarcomas heterotransplanted in nude mice.

The efficacy of desacetyl vinblastine amide (DVA) was tested against five human sarcomas heterotransplanted into nude mice. Marked antitumor effect was found against a lipoblastic liposarcoma, including complete regressions of tumor in some animals. A lesser, though statistically significant, antitumor effect was observed with a malignant schwannoma. No antitumor activity was seen against a leiomyosarcoma, epithelioid sarcoma, or Ewing's sarcoma. We conclude that DVA deserves study in the treatment of human patients with malignant sarcomas.