Phase II trial of N-methylformamide in advanced head and neck cancer.
Eighteen patients with advanced epidermoid carcinoma of the head and neck were entered into a phase II trial of N-Methylformamide (NMF), 800 mg/M2 IV daily for 5 days every 4 weeks. Seventeen patients had received prior radiation therapy and 11 were previously treated with chemotherapy. No complete or partial responses were observed. The major toxicity was gastrointestinal. Fifty percent of patients experienced nausea and vomiting or reversible hepatotoxicity with greater than a 3-fold elevation of liver enzymes. Mild reversible myelosuppression occurred in 2 patients. NMF in this dose and schedule was not a useful agent to treat recurrent epidermoid carcinoma of the head and neck.
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005559:Formamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005559:Formamides; C002950:methylformamide