Clinical phase I study of aclacinomycin A by evaluation of an intermittent intravenous administration schedule.

Aclacinomycin A (ACM) is an anthracycline antibiotic recently introduced into clinical trials because of its reduced cardiac toxicity in animal models relative to Adriamycin and daunomycin. This Phase I study of ACM was conducted to determine a dose suitable for i.v. administration on an every-3-week schedule. Twenty-five adult patients with solid tumors were treated with doses of ACM ranging from 60 to 120 mg/sq m i.v. every 3 to 4 weeks. Myelosuppression was the dose-limiting toxicity, but the degree and timing of blood count depression were variable at each dose level. Nausea and vomiting were seen at myelosuppressive doses, but mucositis was rare. Alopecia was seen in approximately one-third of the patients. There was no acute cardiac toxicity, but cumulative cardiac injury could not be evaluated in this trial. There were no major objective responses in three patients who had measurable disease. The recommended doses of ACM for Phase II studies are 100 mg/sq for good-risk patients and 80 mg/sq m for patients who are heavily pretreated or who have a poor performance status.