A randomized phase II study of acivicin and 4'deoxydoxorubicin in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study.

We analyzed 56 of 75 previously untreated patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who entered on a prospectively randomized trial of acivicin versus 4'deoxydoxorubicin (esorubicin). At least one episode of severe toxicity was documented in 23% of the patients on acivicin and 45% of those on 4'deoxydoxorubicin. Two patients responded to 4'deoxydoxorubicin. One response was partial, lasting 58 weeks, and one was complete, lasting more than 4 years. The 90% confidence interval for response is 1-20%. In view of a 45% rate of severe or worse toxicity with 4'deoxydoxorubicin, this drug cannot be recommended as treatment. There were no responses on acivicin.