A Phase II Nonrandomised Open-Label Study of Liposomal Daunorubicin (DaunoXome) in Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Thirty four patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma not previously treated with an anthracycline were treated with DaunoXome 100mg/m2 every 3 weeks. Thirty-three patients were evaluable for toxicity. Grade 3-4 neutropenia was seen in 20 patients (60.6%), complicated by febrile neutropenia in 2 (6.1%). Other grade 3 toxicities were rare. Among 32 patients assessable for response, one patient had a partial response, giving a response rate of 3.13% (95% confidence interval, 0.08-16.22%). Seven patients (21.9%) had stable disease, and 24 patients (75.0%) had disease progression. The median time to progression for all patients was 42 days (95% CI, 39-49) and the progression-free rate at 3 months was 12.5%. In conclusion, DaunoXome at this dose and schedule is well tolerated in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma, but is not associated with significant activity. Further studies at this dose and schedule cannot be recommended in this disease.