Seventeen patients with stages III and IV alkylating agent-resistant ovarian carcinomas were treated with cytembena, which was given in doses of 200 mg/m2 twice daily for 5 consecutive days every 5 weeks. Sixteen patients completed at least one course of treatment; 11 of them experienced objective progression of disease or failed to continue treatment because of a continuing symptomatic deterioration within the first two treatment cycles. Three patients remained objectively stable after two courses of treatment, but were symptomatically worse and stopped treatment for that reason. Another patient experienced progression after three courses, and the final patient voluntarily withdrew after three courses. No objective regression of disease occurred during treatment with cytembena. Nausea and vomiting occurred at some time in all except 1 patient, and 3 patients experienced mild diarrhea. Two patients had alopecia.