Cyclocytidine (also known as Ancitabine) is the prodrug of cytarabine, which is structurally similar to human deoxycytidine to be incorporated into human DNA and then kills the cell. Cyclocytidine was introduced as an antineoplastic agent for the treatment of lymphatic leukemia, sinus acceleration and an increase in systemic blood pressure. Cyclocytidine in combination with amsacrine were effective retrieval therapy for pediatric patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia who were in relapse or unresponsive to frontline therapy.

Mitobronitol (1,6-dibromo-1,6-dideoxy-D-mannitol, Dibromomannitol) is a brominated analog of mannitol, it is one of a number of carbohydrate derivatives which have exhibited varying degrees of antineoplastic activity. Hungarian investigators first synthesized a series of cytostatic carbohydrate derivatives over two decades ago. Dibromomannitol (DBM) and its conformational isomer dibromodulcitol (DBD) have undergone extensive clinical investigation in the United States. DBD differs from its conformational isomer DBM in activity spectrum, having significant activity against solid tumors and its relative lack of nephrotoxicity. Clinical trials with DBM in the U.S. were carried out mainly in CML; the trials were based on foreign reports of activity in this tumor type. Only the oral form was available for clinical use.

Roquinimex (Linomide, LS 2616) is a quinoline-3-carboxamide with pleiotropic immune modulating capacity and it has therapeutic effects in several experimental animal models of autoimmune diseases. Linomide has been evaluated in clinical trials for multiple sclerosis, and was indeed shown to have disease inhibitory effects. However, due to unexpected side effects recorded in patients treated with Linomide, premature termination of clinical trials was required. The basic mechanism(s) of action of Linomide in inducing beneficial effects in autoimmune diseases is still elusive. Some experimental evidence indicates that Linomide influences the regulation of the cytokine profile, resulting in the inhibition of autoimmune and inflammation pathologies. Roquinimex possesses potential antineoplastic activity. Roquinimex inhibits endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and basement membrane invasion; reduces the secretion of the angiogenic factor tumor necrosis factor alpha by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs); and inhibits angiogenesis. Roquinimex was in phase III clinical trials with Pharmacia Corporation in Europe and the US for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Mitoguazone is a guanylhydrazone derivative with potential antineoplastic activity. Mitoguazone inhibits S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase (SAMD), an enzyme involved in the synthesis of polyamines, resulting in a decreased proliferation of tumor cells, antimitochondrial effects, and p53-independent apoptosis. In the 1960s the drug was investigated in clinical trials. Despite the responses in acute leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer and other types of cancer, the development of the drug was discontinued because of marked myelosuppression and mucositis. Using a weekly schedule of administration, mitoguazone had minimal toxicity and showed limited activity in patients with lymphoma, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer, and other types of tumors.

Mannosulfan is a typical example of the prototype drug busulfan. Mannosulfan, an alkyl sulfonate, produces inter- and intracross-links between DNA strands and ultimately leads to cell apoptosis. It has been used, mostly in Hungary, in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and polycythemia vera.

Mepitiostane is a epitiostanol prodrug that was developed in Japan by Shionogi. The drug is approved and used exclusively in Japan for the treatment of breast carcinoma and anemia associated with renal failure. Upon administration mepitiostane is metabolized to the active metabolite which binds to and inhibits estrogen receptors.

Demecolcine, also called Colcemid, was isolated from the autumn crocus in 1950 and commercialized by Ciba. Initially, it was explored as a cancer drug due to its low toxicity. Demecolcine depolymerizes microtubules and limits microtubule formation (inactivates spindle fiber formation), thus arresting cells in metaphase and allowing cell harvest and karyotyping to be performed. Today, it is only used as a research tool mainly to overcome limitations of colchicine due to its very slow association and dissociation rate constants. It binds to tubulin at the same site as colchicine, but ~10-fold faster, and it also dissociates faster. Demecolcine main use has been to arrest cells in mitosis for cytogenetic analysis, though to our knowledge it offers no special advantages over other drugs in this application.

Tamibarotene (brand name: Amnolake), also called retinobenzoic acid, is orally active, the synthetic retinoid, developed to overcome all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) resistance, with potential antineoplastic activity against acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Tamibarotene is a specific agonist for retinoic acid receptor alpha/beta. It is currently marketed only in Japan and early trials have demonstrated that it tends to be better tolerated than ATRA. It has also been investigated as a possible treatment for Alzheimer's disease, multiple myeloma, and Crohn's disease.

Enocitabine is an anti-cancer nucleoside that was developed for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Although the exact mechanism of its action is unknow, Enocitabine effectively inhibits tumor cell growht in vitro and the inhibition is supposed to be related to its metabolism to Ara-C, an inhibitor of DNA polymerase. The drug was approved in Japan and Korea and was marketed under the name Sunrabin, however, its current marketing status is unknown and is assumed to be discontinued.

Carboquone (CQ) is an anticancer alkylating agent synthesized and developed by Arakawa et al. (Sankyo Co, Ltd.) in 1970, having chemical structure, 2,5-bis-(1-aziridinyl)-3-(2-carbamoyloxy-1-methoxyethyl)-6-methyl- 1,4- benzoquinone. The antitumor efficacies of CQ were reported as excellent, however, the side effects are considerably strong. Carboquone is used to treat various forms of cancer. It is indicated for the treatment of metastatic testicular tumors, metastatic ovarian tumors and advanced bladder cancer.