EFFECT OF $beta;-CHLORETHYLAMINE HYDROCHLORIDES IN LEUKqMIA, HODGKIN'S DISEASE, AND POLYCYTHqMIA VERA REPORT ON EIGHTEEN CASES

Leukaemia – a brief historical review from ancient times to 1950

“…During the same period in Britain, John Wilkinson, Director of the Department of Haematology, Manchester Royal Infirmary, had been involved in work on nitrogen mustards with F. Fletcher since 1942, but they too were unable to publish their findings until 1947. They reported on 18 cases of leukaemia, Hodgkin's disease and polycythaemia vera treated with β‐chloroeth‐lyamine hydrochlorites (Wilkinson & Fletcher, 1947) with results similar to those obtained in the USA.…”

Joe Burchenal and the birth of combination chemotherapy

“…Exposure to the nitrogen mustard code‐named HN2 resulted in severe damage to the lymphoid organs and bone marrow. This led several researchers to try the chemical first in mouse lymphosarcoma and then in patients with lymphoma; significant therapeutic effects were observed (Goodman et al , 1946; Rhoads, 1946; Wilkinson & Fletcher, 1947). Unfortunately, because of the Official Secrets Act neither the American nor the British researchers were able to publish the work that commenced in 1941 until 5 or 6 years later, but subsequently were able to work closely together.…”

The story of chronic myeloid leukaemia

“…Similar research was pursued in the USA, under the auspices of the US Army in collaboration with a number of national research bodies. Profound depression of the leucocyte count was observed on exposure to the beta-chloroalkylamines (`nitrogen mustards'), and after the war Wilkinson's group tried their effects in chronic leukaemias and Hodgkin's disease (Wilkinson & Fletcher, 1947). They were given intravenously and sometimes caused profound myelosuppression.…”