Phase II trial of mitoxantrone in head and neck cancer.

Mitoxantrone (1,4-dihydroxy-5,8-bis[2-[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]ethyl)amino)-9, 10 anthracenedione dihydrochloride, NSC 301,739) is a new aminoanthraquinone derivative with clinical activity in the treatment of advanced breast cancer (1, 2), lymphoma (3), and acute leukemia (4). We have carried out a phase II trial of mitoxantrone using an every three weeks dosing schedule in patients with advanced head and neck cancers.