Hexamethylmelamine (NSC-13875) alone and in combination with 5-(3, 3-dimethyl-triazeno) imidazole-4-carboxamide (NSC-45388) in the treatment of advanced cancer

Abstract

Hexamethylmelamine (HMM) was administered by mouth to 115 patients; 108 were eligible for the study and were evaluated for toxicity, while 82 completed one 21‐day course and were evaluated for response. Responses exceeding 50% in tumor reduction were observed in 1 of 41 evaluable patients (2%) with lung carcinoma and in 4 of 10 with squamous carcinoma of the cervix. HMM was also given in combination with NSC‐45388 (ICDT) to 30 patients; 27 were eligible for the study and were evaluated for toxicity, while 25 completed one 21‐day course and were evaluated for response. Responses exceeding 50% were obtained in 2 of 16 evaluable patients with melanoma and in none of 5 patients with lung carcinoma. Toxic effects of therapy included nausea and vomiting, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and both central and peripheral nervous system manifestations. Further study of HMM in carcinoma of the cervix would be of interest. Further trial of combined HMM and ICDT was abandoned because of the nausea encountered.

Hexamethylmelamine treatment of sarcomas and lymphomas

“…Hexamethylmelamine (WMM), an antitumor triazine with a structure resembling triethylenemelamine, has been shown to have significant antitumor activity against bronchogenic, ovarian, breast, cervical, and other carcinomas (1,2). Information on the effectiveness of HMM in mesenchymal tumors suggests good activity against lymphomas and only marginal activity in sarcomas (1,(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). Because of a complete response to HMM of greater than 8 years duration in a patient with metastatic osteosarcoma, a review of several Phase I and I1 studies of the Central Oncology Group and the Division of Clinical Oncology, University of Wisconsin Hospitals, was undertaken t o determine the overall effectiveness of HMM in treating mesenchymal tumors.…”