Cyclophosphamide and dimethylsulfoxide in the treatment of squamous carcinoma of the lung. Therapeutic efficacy, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics.

To determine whether dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) can potentiate antitumor activity of cyclophosphamide (CYC) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, 14 patients were treated with 5 l of a 5% or 6% DMSO solution PO over 3 days and 1,500 mg CYC/m2 IV as a 60-min infusion on the third day of treatment. Serial blood, CSF, and urine samples were collected to assess the pharmacokinetics of CYC. Courses were repeated every 3-4 weeks. No antitumor responses were observed. Toxicity was mainly hematologic and similar to that of CYC alone. There was one death from infection during granulocytopenia. Nonhematologic toxicity was moderate to severe and included nausea (14 patients) and vomiting (five patients). The plasma pharmacokinetics of CYC in this study are similar to previously reported results for CYC alone, but the 24-h urinary excretion of CYC in our study is much lower than previously reported. Further studies in tumors more responsive to CYC may be warranted.