Clinical experience with mitomycin C in large infrequent doses

One hundred and six patients (103 solid tumors, three lymphomas) were treated with large infrequent doses of mitomycin C. Thirteen patients in this group received combined radiation and chemotherapy and were evaluated separately. Most patients received 50 mg of the drug in a divided dose during the first week of treatment. After 6 weeks, maintenance injections of 10 to 30 mg of the drug were given to responsive patients at 4- to 6-week intervals. Twenty-two per cent of the patients showed a 50% reduction in tumor mass for a month or longer. Patients with breast and gastrointestinal carcinoma responded most frequently. The remission rates and durations are similar to those of published studies using other dosage schedules. Toxic effects have been similar though possibly less frequent. There appears to be no therapeutic advantage in using large infrequent doses of the drug; however, the time-saving to both patient and medical staff has been significant.