Adriamycin: a new effective agent in the therapy of disseminated sarcomas

Thirty-six patients with disseminated sarcomas were treated with adriamycin according to an intermittent single high-dose schedule based on our prior pharmacologic observations. The dose of 60 mg/M2 IV q 3 weeks was reduced 50-75% in the presence of liver disease. Complete remission occurred in 9%, parital remission in 32%, and improvement in 21% for median durations of 37, 18, and 15 weeks, respectively. Survival was prolonged in responding patients. Hematologic suppression was mild in the absence of liver disease or prior extensive radiotherapy. Congestive heart failure, a well-known long-term complication of therapy with anthracycline drugs, occurred in two out of four patients who had cumulative doses of 600 mg/M2 or more. Mucous membrane toxicity was not observed. Adriamycin is an effective new agent in the therapy of disseminated sarcomas and can be used with relative safety by following pharmacologic principles.