Phase II study of amsacrine in solid tumors: a report of the EORTC Early Clinical Trial-Group

A total of 239 patients with advanced solid tumors were treated in this phase II trial. Amsacrine was administered as a single i.v. dose of 120 mg/m2 repeated at 21-day intervals. The initial dose was reduced to 90 mg/m2 in the case of extensive prior therapy. Some antitumor activity was detected in head and neck cancer but the drug appears to lack significant efficacy in epidermoid lung cancer as well as in carcinoma of the breast, melanoma, renal cell cancer, colorectal cancer and non-seminomatous testicular cancer. Leukopenia was the major toxic effect encountered in this trial and was similar at 90 and 120 mg/m2.