Phase II study of 9-hydroxy-2N-methylellipticinium acetate.

A broad phase II trial of elliptinium was conducted in 105 evaluable patients with advanced solid tumors. The drug was given as a 60-90-min i.v. infusion at a weekly dose of 100 mg/m2. Of 36 breast cancer patients, one achieved complete and six achieved partial response for an overall response rate of 19%. Responses lasted for 12-56 weeks from initiation of therapy. There was also one partial response among 21 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. No response could be obtained in 17 patients with colon cancer, 13 patients with head and neck cancer and 18 patients with a wide variety of other malignancies. Myelosuppression was minimal. Nausea and vomiting were the most frequent toxic effects. The drug also produced serious xerostomia and acute intravascular hemolysis. Asthenia was common. Other adverse reactions included fever and chills, transient neurologic and cardiovascular manifestations and renal function impairment. Additional work is needed to define optimal modes of drug administration.