Hexamethylmelamine chemotherapy for disseminated endometrial cancer

To evaluate the role of hexamethylmelamine (HMM) in the treatment of endometrial cancer, 20 women with metastatic or recurrent endometrial carcinoma received HMM orally at a dose of 8 mg/kg/day. Six patients (30%) showed a partial response, with a median duration of response of 3.5 months and a range of 1 to 7 months. Two patients responded to HMM as a second-line agent following previous treatment with nonhormonal chemotherapy. There were no complete responses. The major toxicities noted with HMM therapy were nausea, vomiting, and neurotoxicity. In 6 patients (30%), therapy with HMM was discontinued because of toxicity. Although HMM is active against endometrial cancer when given at a dose of 8 mg/kg/day, it appears to have limited usefulness because toxicity precludes its prolonged administration.