Letter to the British Medical Journal from BPW's team at the University of London, replying to a query about the effects of 6-Azauridine (AzUR).
Patients with Trophoblast Tumours Wanted
SIR,—Dr. I. Gordon's query (September 16, p. 768) concerning the effect of AzUR upon different parts of the conceptus and its derivatives cannot fully be answered until our observations in mice have been extended and corresponding investigations carried out in human subjects. However, Dr. Gordon's apprehension of dangers inherent in a treatment which "produces a mole" can be allayed both by our own observations and by the general pathological characteristics of hydatidiform mole and chorion carcinoma.
Firstly, the formation of the relatively structureless mole in the mouse under the influence of AzUR is a purely transient response and is terminated by autolysis leading to the complete resorption of both the foetus and its trophic apparatus. Secondly, the short-lived mole is equivalent to a carneous mole, which is biologically inert compared with a hydatidiform mole or a malignoma derived from trophoblast. Lastly and most important, even if a carneous mole were to be produced, it would be a benign and desirable alternative to the malignant condition for which we propose the experimental use of AzUR.—We are, etc.,
Department of Nutrition
Queen Elizabeth College,
University of London.
Margaret A. Sanders.
B. P. Wiesner.
John Yudkin.
David Savage.