Is Ukrain Safe?
One of the main dangers with the application of Ukrain as a non-licensed chemotherapeutic agent is that conventional, possibly helpful treatment may not be sought, or onset of conventional treatment may be delayed. As Ukrain contains a derivative of thiophosphoric acid, which could cause adverse effects, contraindications and/or interactions with other hazardous drugs of this class of chemicals should be respected.
Contraindications
No contraindications of Ukrain have been given by providers, proponents or manufacturer.
Precautions/warnings
Extracts of greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) has been implicated in causing hepatitis (ref 24, 26).
Adverse effects
Soreness at injection site, nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, polydipsia, polyuria, and slight fever have been reported (ref 6, 22). Haematological side effects and tumour bleeding were reported in a recent phase II trial (ref 20). Severe bone marrow toxicity may occur after 15 to 20 days of treatment. Liver toxicity may be observed (ref 27).
Interactions
None known.
Quality issues
None known.
References
6. Uglyanitsa KN, Nefyodov LI, Doroshenko YM, Nowicky JW, Volchek IV, Brzosko WJ, Hodysh YJ. Ukrain: a novel antitumour drug. Drugs Exp Clin Res 2000;56:347-56.
20. Gansauge F, Ramadani M, Pressmar J, Gansauge S, Muehling B, Stecker K et al. NSC-631570 (Ukrain) in the palliative treatment of pancreatic cancer. Results of a phase II trial. Langenbecks Arch Surg 2002;386:570-4.
22. Danysz A, Kokoschinegg M, Hamler F. Clinical studies of Ukrain in healthy volunteers (phase1). Drugs Exp Clin Res 1992;18:39-43.
24. Stickel F, Poschl G, Seitz HK, Waldherr R, Hahn EG, Schuppan D: Acute hepatitis induced by Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus). Scand J Gastroenterol 2003; 38(5):565-568.
26. Benninger J, Schneider HT, Schuppan D, Kirchner T, Hahn EG: Acute hepatitis induced by greater celandine (Chelidonium majus). Gastroenterology 1999; 117(5):1234-1237.
27. Stickel F, Seitz HK, Hahn EG, Schuppan D: [Liver toxicity of drugs of plant origin]. Z Gastroenterol 2001; 39(3):225-227.
