Phase II trial of nimustine (ACNU; 3-[4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl) methyl]-1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea hydrochloride) in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung after failure on combination chemotherapy.

Thirty-nine previously treated patients received Nimustine in a phase II trial to test the therapeutic activity in refractory small cell lung cancer. Nimustine was given as a direct i.v. injection of 100 mg/m2 with treatments repeated every six weeks. Three partial remissions of 56, 123 and 355 days duration were noted among 34 evaluable patients. Thrombocytopenia was prominent with a median platelet nadir of 47,000/microliter. We conclude that Nimustine has minor antitumor-activity in heavily pretreated patients with small cell lung cancer. The definitive value of Nimustine in the treatment of small cell lung cancer, as well as its superiority over its parent compounds remains to be established.