A phase II study of dihydroxyanthracenedione (DHAD, mitoxantrone, NSC 301739) in advanced malignant melanoma.

The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) conducted a phase II trial of Dihydroxyanthracenedione (DHAD, Mitoxantrone, NSC 301739) in 28 patients with advanced malignant melanoma, none of whom had received prior cytotoxic chemotherapy. 27 of 28 patients were ECOG performance status 0 or 1. Mitoxantrone was administered at a dose of 12 mg/M2 as a 30-45 minute intravenous infusion repeated every 3 weeks as toxicity and response permitted. Dose limiting toxicity was myelosuppression. No cardiotoxicity was encountered in this study. In this optimal group of patients, only one partial response to Mitoxantrone was observed. At this dose and schedule, Mitoxantrone has no clinically worthwhile activity against malignant melanomas.