Because "the standard" chemotherapy for advanced gastric adenocarcinoma, the FAM combination of 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, and mitomycin, is only minimally effective, there is a clear need for other choices. Therefore, the Southwest Oncology Group tested the new adriamycin analog, bisantrene, hoping that it might be more effective than the "parent drug." Twenty-six patients with gastric adenocarcinoma were treated on a program of every-3-week 2-hour bisantrene infusions. The starting dose was 260 mg/m2 (208 if poor risk), with subsequent doses based on prior toxicity. The regimen caused sufficient toxicity (especially local phlebitis with pain and swelling) to assure an adequate test. One person (3.8% of eligible patients) experienced a clinically useful 3-month response. He had previously had progressive disease on FAM. Nevertheless, we conclude that bisantrene is not an addition to the small list of drugs useful in the management of gastric adenocarcinoma.