Aminopterin might be safe in ALL.

摘要

A phase IIB trial suggests that aminopterin can safely replace methotrexate in multiagent treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Like methotrexate, which has been used in the treatment of ALL since the 1940s, aminopterin is a folic acid analogue. Both compounds, and their active metabolites, inhibit several folate-mediated reactions, especially the synthesis of nucleotides, thereby inhibiting DNA synthesis. Uptake of these drugs by patients' lymphoblasts therefore helps bring ALL under control.