Phase I study of hycanthone.

Hycanthone, an antischistosomal drug possessing activity against experimental murine tumors, was administered by 20-minute infusion daily x 5 days to 12 patients with advanced cancer to determine dose-limiting toxicity and to look for therapeutic effect. No objective responses were seen. The dose-limiting toxic effect was acute hepatitis occurring in two of four patients treated at 100 mg/m2/day x 5. Moderate nausea and vomiting occurring on treatment days was the only other toxic effect. Hycanthone was not myelosuppressive. Assay of plasma concentrations of hycanthone revealed a plasma half-life of 3-5 hours and no accumulation of drug over the 5 days of treatment.