[Failure of elliptinium acetate in the treatment of unresectable hepatocarcinoma (phase II trial)].

Fifteen patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were administered elliptinium acetate in a phase II trial. A dose of 80 mg/m2/day was administered during 3 consecutive days, every 3 weeks. According to WHO criteria regarding response, no objective responses were observed. The major toxicity was dryness of the mouth which occurred in 73% of patients, on addition, one case of hemolysis was documented in spite of a systematic search for anti-elliptinium antibodies prior to each injection. In conclusion, elliptinium acetate has no valuable therapeutic impact on the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.