Summary
Amonafide is a new synthetic anticancer agent whose mechanism of action is through inhibition of macromolecular synthesis as well as DNA intercalation. The Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) has investigated this drug in a phase II study of pancreas cancer. Thirty-six patients were registered on this study: of these 29 were eligible for response evaluation, and 20 received the two cycles required for making a response assessment. Patients met the standard phase II criteria of no prior chemotherapy, measurable disease and a SWOG performance status of 2 or less. Toxicity, predominantly hematologic with significant neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, was quite severe. Four treatment related deaths were encountered. No responses were seen in thirty-six patients studied. We conclude that this drug is not active against adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
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Leichman, C.G., Tangen, C., Macdonald, J.S. et al. Phase II trial of amonafide in advanced pancreas cancer. Invest New Drugs 11, 219–221 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00874159
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00874159