Phase II study of methyl-GAG in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma

Twenty-four patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus have been treated, in a phase II trial, with methyl-GAG using a weekly schedule. Eighteen patients had received prior chemotherapy with cisplatin-containing combinations. Of 23 evaluable patients, four (17%) had partial remissions, each lasting 2 months. All patients had received prior chemotherapy. Toxic effects were manageable and included mild nausea and vomiting, mucositis, and fatigue. Using this schedule, methyl-GAG had modest activity in esophageal cancer, with acceptable toxicity. Its role in combination chemotherapy remains to be defined.