title: Ifosfamide and mesna: response and toxicity at standard- and high-dose schedules.
abstract: In two sequential trials, 154 patients were treated with dosages of ifosfamide, ranging between 8 and 18 g/m2 divided over 4 days, with mesna uroprotection. The first was a phase II efficacy trial in 125 advanced sarcoma patients (Antman et al: J Clin Oncol 7:126-131, 1989), while the second was a dose escalation trial involving 29 patients (Elias et al: J Clin Oncol 8:170-178, 1990). In the first trial, patients received 8 to 10 g/m2 ifosfamide either by bolus or continuous infusion. The response rate for the 64 patients receiving bolus administration was 23% compared with 12% for the 60 patients receiving a continuous infusion schedule (P = .09). Of the 154 patients, 144 had sarcoma and had failed at least one previous regimen. Of these 144, 4% responded completely and 23% had a complete or partial response. The maximum tolerated dose of ifosfamide was 16 g/m2 in the second trial. Dose-limiting renal toxicity was observed at 18 g/m2 ifosfamide (Elias et al: J Clin Oncol 8:170-178, 1990). The duration of myelosuppression and the frequency and severity of mucositis and renal tubular acidosis were dose-dependent. A median of 11 days (range, 8 to 18) of granulocytopenia (less than 500/microL) were observed. Thus, autologous bone marrow reinfusion was not required. Severe central nervous system toxicity (transient confusion, hallucinations, and somnolence) was observed sporadically at both low- and high-dose levels. The first four patients on the standard-dose study did not receive mesna because it was unavailable; three developed gross hematuria. In patients who received mesna, hematuria was uncommon. Hematuria in the group as a whole was significantly associated with a lack of uroprotection, but was not associated with prior cyclophosphamide, pelvic radiotherapy, age, or bolus versus a continuous infusion schedule. Patients receiving ifosfamide with mesna uroprotection can tolerate considerable dose escalation over the usual prescribed doses before nonhematologic toxicity becomes dose-limiting. Ifosfamide, with its broad activity in solid tumors, may prove to be an important addition to high-dose combination-chemotherapy regimens (Elias et al: J Clin Oncol 8:170-178, 1990).
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Antman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003556:Cystitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D015080:Mesna / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D015080:Mesna; D007069:Ifosfamide