Modified administration schedule of adriamycin in solid tumors

Eighty one patients (59 females, 22 males) with advanced solid tumors were treated with Adriamycin in doses of 40 mg/m2 body surgace daily, in two days cycles, with resting periods of 3 weeks. Overall response rate was 46% (37/81). In breast cancer response rate was 56% (13/23) and in ovarian cancer 48% (13/27). In various other tumors remission was observed in soft tissue sarcomas (3/8), thyroid cancer (1/7), osteogenic sarcoma (1/4), oesophageal cancer (2/4), lung cancer (2/4), bladder cancer (1/2) and hepatoma (1/2). In breast cancer patients, 2-7 month remission duration was observed (M equal to 4.5 month) and in ovarian cancer 1.5-5 month (M equal to 3.2 month). Adriamycin was also applied intrapleurally in 31 patients with malignant pleural effusions with a low response rate (26%). This modified schedule of Adriamycin administration showed a high antitumor activity in breast and ovarian cancer and in soft tissue sarcomas. Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus was also sensitive to Adriamycin therapy. The very low rate of myelosuppression and oral ulceration showed the decreased toxicity of this Adriamycin administration schedule.