Evaluation of a hexamethylmelamine and 5-fluorouracil combination in the treatment of advanced ovarian carcinoma.

The combination of two nonalkylating agents, hexamethylmelamine (HMM) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), was evaluated in 14 patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma. Nine patients had been treated previously with alkylating agents. The overall response rate was 36% which is not greater than could be expected with either HMM or 5-FU alone. However, the median survival of the five responders was greater than 24 months. Treatment had to be discontinued in five of 14 patients due to excessive toxicity. Although the toxic effects were predominately gastrointestinal, unpredictable hematopoietic and neurotoxic effects were observed.