[A phase I trial of 4'-epiadriamycin]

A phase I study of a new anthracycline, 4'-epiadriamycin was conducted in a total of 28 patients with various advanced cancers refractory to standard chemotherapies and 26 were evaluable. A dose limiting factor was leukopenia reaching a nadir approximately 2 weeks later and about one week needed for the recovery. Thrombocytopenia was milder and less frequent than leukopenia but dose-related. Nausea and alopecia were observed in the majority of patients but vomiting was relatively rare and therefore non-hematologic toxicities were judged to be milder than adriamycin. A recommended dose for patients having prior extensive chemotherapies was determined to be 60 mg/m2 in 3 weeks intervals.