A PHASE-II STUDY OF MERBARONE IN PATIENTS WITH ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE PANCREAS

Merbarone, a nonsedating derivative of thiobarbituric acid that has de monstrated antineoplastic activity against a variety of murine tumors, was evaluated in a phase II trial in patients with advanced, measurab le adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Seventeen patients were treated at a starting dose of 1000 mg/m2/day for 5 days by continuous intravenous infusion; the dose was escalated in accordance with the toxicity expe rienced, and no dosage reductions owing to toxicity were required. No complete or partial responses were observed, and only one minor respon se was documented, suggesting that merbarone is ineffective against pa ncreatic cancer at the doses and schedule in which it was administered in this trial.