A PHASE-II TRIAL OF VINDESINE IN HEPATOCELLULAR CANCER

Sixteen patients with histologically confirmed inoperable hepatocellul ar carcinoma were treated with vindesine 3 mg/m(2) i.v. weekly. Anemia , leukopenia and neuritis were documented but no severe or life-threat ening toxicity was seen. There were no objective responses among the 1 4 evaluable patients. Eight had a no change status (median duration of 16 weeks, range 6-33), while the remaining 6 had progressive disease as their best evaluation The median survival time was 20 weeks. Vindes ine does not have a therapeutic effect in patients with advanced hepat ocellular carcinoma.