Mitoquidone, a novel pentacyclic pyrroloquinone, is a potential anticancer agent. Mitoquidone showed good activity in a range of experimental solid tumour models and did not exhibit significant cytotoxicity.

Mitoquidone (MTQ) demonstrated good activity in a range of experimental solid tumour models, but was weakly active against standard prescreens such as the P388 murine leukaemia. Twenty-seven patients were treated with MTQ given as a 4-h infusion either once every 21 days (150-600 mg/m2), once a week (200 mg/m2 per week), or as 5 daily doses repeated every 28 days (60-180 mg/m2 per day). Temporary remission of B-symptoms occurred in two patients with lymphoma. Linear pharmacokinetics were observed with a terminal plasma half-life of 2.9 +/- 2.1 h (n = 18 doses). The volume of distribution was 3.4 +/- 2.6 l/kg and plasma clearance was 629 +/- 469 ml/min per m2.[1]