Phase II trial of bisantrene in non-small cell lung cancer

Eighteen evaluable patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were treated with bisantrene at a dose of 200 mg/m2 once a week for 3 consecutive weeks. Courses of treatment were repeated every 4 weeks. This dose schedule caused leukopenia (less than 3,500 cells/microl) in all patients. There were no objective responses in 18 patients. Bisantrene in this myelosuppressive dose schedule did not have significant activity in patients with NSCLC.