Ifosfamide, doxorubicin and etoposide in small cell lung cancer patients with poor prognosis

• Published in: European journal of cancer & clinical oncology Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 691 - 694
• Main Authors: Kamthan, A.G., Lind, M.J., Thatcher, N., Steward, W.P., Hernandez Bronchud, M., Ranson, M.R., Stout, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1990; New York, NY Pergamon Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Small Cell - drug therapy; Doxorubicin - administration & dosage; Etoposide - administration & dosage; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide - administration & dosage; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prognosis; Antineoplastic agent; Human; Chemotherapy; Prognosis; Treatment; Respiratory disease; Lung; Malignant tumor
• ISSN: 0277-5379; 0959-8049
• DOI: 10.1016/0277-5379(90)90118-D

61 patients with small cell lung cancer in a poor prognosis group were treated with chemotherapy and with thoracic radiotherapy if they had ‘limited stage’ disease. No prophylactic cranial irradiation was given. Chemotherapy comprised doxorubicin 50 mg/m 2 and ifosfamide 5 g/m 2 with mesna on day 1, and etoposide 120 mg/m 2 intravenously on days 1 and 2 and 240 mg/m 2 orally on day 3. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks for a maximum of six courses and no dosage reductions were allowed. Complete response rate in limited stage patients was 55% and 16% in extensive stage patients. The partial responses were 38% and 66% respectively. Overall median survival was 10.5 months with 2-year survival of 14%. The corresponding values for limited stage disease were 13 months and 16% and for extensive stage disease 8 months and 13%. Despite the addition of doxorubicin at a somewhat higher dosage than usual in this type of regimen and a policy of no dose reduction, toxicity was generally mild. There was, however, a 19% relapse rate in complete responders in the brain, apparently as the sole site of disease.