[A phase II study of (2''R)-4'-O-tetrahydropyranyladriamycin (THP) in patients with head and neck cancer].

A phase II study of a new anthracycline, (2"R)-4'-O-tetrahydropyranyladriamycin (THP), was conducted in 110 patients with various head and neck cancers in a multi-institutional cooperative study. The response rate was 20.3% (PR 12) in an intravenously injected group and 52.3% (CR 8, PR 15) in an intraarterially injected group. In the former cases, the response rate according to primary sites was 19.2 to 27.3% for the maxilla, pharynx, oral cavity and larynx. In the latter cases, it was 40.9 to 64.3% for the maxilla, pharynx and oral cavity, and 100% for the external auditory meatus (CR 1, PR 1). According to histology, the response rate was 37.5 % in squamous cell carcinoma. Partial response was observed in two cases of undifferentiated carcinoma. The predominant toxicity was myelosuppression. Leukocytopenia (less than 3,000/mm3) was noted in 44 cases (41.9%). Loss of hair and stomatitis were observed in 13 (12.6%) and 12 (11.7%) respectively. However, these were mild and recovered quickly on discontinuation of THP. We concluded that THP therapy was markedly effective for various head and neck cancers.