Continuous-infusion doxorubicin in the treatment of primary hepatic malignancies of childhood

Five children with primary hepatic malignancies were treated with continuous infusions of doxorubicin administered as a single agent every 3-4 weeks. Four of five children showed positive response to therapy, manifested by decreasing tumor size and/or tumor markers; the fifth child had stable disease for 4 months. Side effects included mild nausea and vomiting and myelosuppression. No evidence of cardiotoxicity was seen with cumulative doses up to 720 mg/m².