[Phase II study of mitoxantrone for hematologic malignancies]

A phase II study of mitoxantrone (MIT) was performed in 21 patients with hematologic malignancies refractory to combination chemotherapy including anthracyclines. MIT was administered intravenously at doses of 8 to 13 mg/m2 on day 1 for 12 malignant lymphoma patients, and 1 to 3.3 mg/m2 on day 1 through 5 for 7 acute leukemia patients and 2 malignant lymphoma patients. Four malignant lymphoma patients (2 each of Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) achieved partial response lasting 19, 14, 8+, and 4 weeks, respectively. Although no definite response was obtained in acute leukemia patients, a marked cytoreduction was observed in 2 patients. Myelosuppression was a major toxicity, however, life-threatening toxicities were not observed in this study.