A phase II study of merbarone in patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Merbarone, a nonsedating derivative of thiobarbituric acid that has demonstrated antineoplastic activity against a variety of murine tumors, was evaluated in a phase II trial in patients with advanced, measurable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Seventeen patients were treated at a starting dose of 1000 mg/m2/day for 5 days by continuous intravenous infusion; the dose was escalated in accordance with the toxicity experienced, and no dosage reductions owing to toxicity were required. No complete or partial responses were observed, and only one minor response was documented, suggesting that merbarone is ineffective against pancreatic cancer at the doses and schedule in which it was administered in this trial.