PHASE-I STUDY OF MAYTANSINE USING A 3-DAY SCHEDULE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 62  (3) , 425-428
Abstract
Maytansine [Maytenus ovatus], a new ansa macrolide antitumor antibiotic, was administered to 60 patients as part of a phase I study. The doses given ranged from 0.01 (starting level)-0.9 ng/m2 for 3 days. The toxic effects encountered consisted principally of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and occasionally, stomatitis and alopecia. Superficial phlebitis was also encountered and occurred when the drug was diluted in a volume of 250 ml. Myelosuppression occurred infrequently; it was almost regularly associated with abnormal liver function tests. Antitumor activity was detected in 1 patient each with melanoma, breast carcinoma, and head and neck clear cell carcinoma. Further studies are indicated with this compound since it has shown evidence of activity with little or no myelosuppression.

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