Phase II trials of hexamethylmelamine, dianhydrogalactitol, razoxane, and beta-2'-deoxythioguanosine as single agents against advanced measurable tumors of the pancreas. Gastrointestinal Tumor Study Group.

Phase II trials of several single agents demonstrated only minimal objective response rates in patients with pancreatic carcinoma and measurable tumors: hexamethylmelamine (7%; four responses among 55 patients); dianhydrogalactitol (2.5%; one response among 40 patients); razoxane (7%; two responses among 29 patients); and beta-2'-deoxythioguanosine (6%; two responses among 32 patients). Among patients with a good performance status (0-2) and no prior chemotherapy, response rates were 8% for hexamethylmelamine (two responses among 26 patients); 8% for dianhydrogalactitol (one response among 13 patients); 8% for razoxane (one response among 12 patients); and 10% for beta-2'-deoxythioguanosine (two responses among 20 patients). None of these agents given by the methods of this study offers substantive benefit to the patient with advanced pancreatic cancer.