Chemotherapy in metastatic melanoma: phase II studies of amsacrine, mitoxantrone and bisantrene.

In a phase II study 20 patients with measurable metastatic melanoma were treated with amsacrine 120 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. No objective responses were observed. In a separate study 29 patients received mitoxantrone 12-14 mg/m2 every 3-4 weeks. One objective partial response was seen. The drug was well tolerated. Seventeen patients were treated with bisantrene 135-200 mg/m2 weekly. No objective responses were observed. Phlebitis was the major non-hematologic toxicity of bisantrene. These agents are not recommended for treatment of malignant melanoma.