A phase II trial of ICRF-187 (1.0 g/m2/48 hours by continuous infusion every 3 weeks) was conducted in 25 patients with advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. There were two partial responders for an overall response rate of 8%. Sixteen of the patients had not received prior chemotherapy and both responding patients were in this group. The major side effect of ICRF-187 was reversible leukopenia.