Aclacinomycin. Phase II evaluation in advanced squamous carcinoma of the head and neck

Aclacinomycin-A was evaluated in a phase II trial for advanced head and neck cancer. A weekly infusion of 65 mg/m2 was used. Eighteen patients were entered. Fifteen patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. One was evaluable for toxicity only and two died before completion of a full course of therapy. One patient without previous chemotherapy achieved a PR in a neck node for a short time. Six patients had stable disease with a median to progression of 6 weeks. Major toxicity encountered was bone marrow suppression. Aclacinomycin-A appears to have no activity in squamous cancer of the head and neck.