Phase I study of m-AMSA in patients with solid tumors and leukemias

m-AMSA is a synthetic aminoacridine DNA intercalator found to have experimental murine antitumor activity. A phase I investigation was undertaken in 71 patients with solid tumors and acute leukemia. Using an intermittent every 3-week schedule in solid tumors, toxicity encountered was primarily hematologic, predominantly leukopenia with relative platelet sparing. The recommended dose for phase II evaluation in patients with solid tumors is 90 mg/m2 every 3 weeks; patients with minimal prior therapy could be treated at 120 mg/m2 and patients with hepatic dysfunction or marginal bone marrow reserve should have an initial dose reduction to 70 mg/m2. Therapeutic activity was seen in Hodgkin's disease, hepatoma, and epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus. Various dose schedules were studied in leukemia. The recommended dose for phase II evaluation is 120 mg/m2 daily for 5 days as a daily 30-minute infusion. At this dose, nausea, vomiting, mucositis, alopecia, and hepatic toxicity were noted. Therapeutic activity was seen in AML, blastic CML, and CLL. Further clinical trials with this agent are warranted.