Adriamycin in the treatment of cancer.

Adriamycin is a new anticancer antibiotic with a wide spectrum of activity against solid tumours. The results obtained with this agent in 159 patients with histologically confirmed advanced metastastic malignancies are reported. Encouraging results were obtained in patients with sarcomas of bone and soft tissue (12/22). Response was also seen in mesothelioma (3/9) and lung cancer (5/15). A variety of other neoplasms was also treated and results obtained in neuroblastoma, testicular tumours, stomach carcinoma, breast cancer and nephroblastoma are reported. Treatment is discussed, with reference to response rates and toxicity. Results in 72 patients with advanced breast cancer, who received adriamycin in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, are presented. Seventeen patients with primary liver cancer were also treated with adriamycin. To date, this is the only chemotherapeutic agent that appears to significantly improve survival times in patients with this resistant form of cancer. The prophylactic use of adriamycin against osteogenic sarcoma is also discussed.