Combination chemotherapy with adriamycin (NSC-123127) and cyclophosphamide (NSC-26271) for solid tumors: a phase II trial

Abstract

One hundred and nine adult patients with metastatic carcinoma were treated at 3-4-week intervas with a combination of adriamycin (40 mg/m2 given iv on Day 1) and cyclophosphamide (200 mg/m2/day given orally in divided doses on Days 3-6). Ninety-two of 96 patients who had an adequate trial (minumum of two courses or progression of disease after one course) had follow-up observations of tumor sites and were considered evaluable for response. Overall objective response rates by tumor type were as follows: stage III or IV ovarian adenocarcinoma, 61% (14 of 23 patients); endometrial adenocarcinoma, 67% (four of six patients); cervical adenocarcinoma, 33% (one of three patients); prostatic adenocarcinoma, 18% (two of 11 patients); testicular carcinoma, 33% (one of three patients); lung carcinoma, 21% (four of 19 patients); renal adenocarcinoma, 14% (one of seven patients); gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma, 18% (two of 11 patients); melanoma, 25% (one of four patients); and miscellaneous tumors, no responses in five patients. In patients with ovarian adenocarcinoma who had not previously received any cytotoxic chemotherapy the response rate was 80% (12 of 15 patients) with 33% five of 15 patients achieving complete clinical remission. CRs in these patients have now been maintained for periods ranging from 7 to 12 months. The major toxic effects were mild to moderate leukopenia, alopecia, and nausea with vomiting. Hemorrhagic cystitis was observed in three patients. The combination of adriamycin and cyclophosphamide is an effective treatment for carcinoma of the breast (reported elsewhere), ovary, and endometrium and should be considered for initial chemotherapy in patients with these tumors. Further investigations of its use for melanoma and carcinoma of the lung, prostate, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract are also warranted.