title: Ifosfamide continuous infusion plus etoposide in the treatment of elderly patients with aggressive lymphoma: a phase II study.
abstract: A prospective phase II study was performed to evaluate efficacy and toxicity of continuous infusion ifosfamide plus etoposide combination in elderly patients (older than 70 years) with intermediate or high grade non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Chemotherapy was administered with mesna in order to avoid hemorrhagic cystitis. The 21 patients included were either unable to receive the usual front-line chemotherapy given in our institution or relapsing after or not responding to conventional chemotherapy. Only one out of 97 courses of chemotherapy was followed by serious complication consisting in non-lethal pneumonitis. Four out of seven previously untreated patients and five patients treated in first relapse achieved complete response (75 per cent). Out of nine refractory or previously multi-treated patients, only one achieved complete response. We conclude that combination of continuous infusion ifosfamide plus etoposide deserves to be evaluated on a larger scale so that the optimum doses and schedule may be defined.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre-Benite, France.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Tigaud
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demolombe
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bastion
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bryon
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coiffier
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005047:Etoposide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D015080:Mesna / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D015080:Mesna; D007069:Ifosfamide