Amonafide treatment of refractory esophageal cancer. A Southwest Oncology Group study.

Amonafide, a synthetic benzisoquinolinedione, was evaluated for treatment of squamous esophageal cancer. Eleven men and 5 women were eligible with a median performance status of 1 and median age of 63 years. Six had no prior treatment. All patients had measurable disease. Therapy consisted of amonafide 300 mg/m2d days 1-5 every 21 days. Thirty-five courses of therapy were delivered. The median number of courses received was two. Sixteen patients are evaluable for toxicity. Thirteen are evaluable for response. Toxicity was severe. Seven patients were hospitalized for toxicity. Six patients had grade IV granulocytopenia; two, grade IV thrombocytopenia. Angioedema developed in one patient; severe exfoliative dermatitis in another. A single partial response, with the decrease in size a supraclavicular node, was noted in a previously untreated patient. Amonafide, in this dose and schedule, is associated with occasionally severe toxicity precluding its likely use in squamous cell esophageal carcinoma.