Forty-nine patients with histologically confirmed primary liver cancer have been entered on phase II trials of mitoxantrone (Novantrone; dihydroxyanthracenedione), at a dose of 14 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. Among the patients evaluable for toxicity, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were the most important side-effects encountered. Partial responses have been observed. In a significant number of patients the disease remained stable for at least 1 month. At present the median survival time is, however, only 12 weeks. The response rate and median survival times are similar to those documented with other single cytotoxic drugs, given to comparable groups of patients with primary liver cancer.
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