Phase II trial of diaziquone (AZQ) in advanced malignant melanoma

Forty-two evaluable patients with malignant melanoma received AZQ 27 mg/m² i.v. every 4 weeks. In 5 patients with poor marrow reserve this dose was reduced to 20 mg/m². Doses were rapidly escalated when no significant myelosuppression was encountered in previous courses. Twenty-five patients had received no prior chemotherapy. A single partial response was obtained for 3 months. Inconsistent myelosuppression was the main toxic effect in this trial. The median WBC and platelet nadirs were 3200/mm³ (900-19,500) and 105,000/mm³ (33,000-530,000) respectively. In 2 patients leukopenia was complicated by a transient episode of infection. One-third of the patients did not experience significant myelosuppression. Non-hematologic adverse reactions were generally mild to moderate and consisted of nausea and vomiting in 26 patients and alopecia in 1. It is concluded that at this dose schedule AZQ is ineffective against malignant melanoma.