Phase II study of AMSA in lung cancer

Ninety-one assessable patients with advanced oat cell and non-oat cell carcinoma of the lung were given AMSA on an intermittent every-3-week schedule. Starting doses ranged from 55 to 120 mg/m2, depending on the presence and severity of hepatic dysfunction. Three partial responses (two squamous cell carcinomas, one adenocarcinoma) of short duration were documented. The major toxic effect was leukopenia (44%). AMSA does not appear to have sufficient antitumor activity to warrant further investigation in advanced lung cancer.