Therapy for poor-risk patients with small-cell lung cancer using bolus ifosfamide and oral etoposide.
A total of 47 poor-risk small-cell lung cancer patients (elderly, poor performance status, recent myocardial infarction, or extensive-stage disease with biochemical abnormalities) were treated with a regimen of bolus ifosfamide at 1.5 g/m2 with equidose mesna as a 30-min infusion, followed by 100 mg oral etoposide daily for 8 days. Therapy was repeated every 3 weeks. The overall response rate was 60% (75% for limited-stage and 48% for extensive-stage disease), and the overall median survival was 7 months. Patients' performance status significantly improved with therapy (P less than 0.0001). Despite the poor-risk factors, the Manchester prognostic score was applied and verified. The median survival was 8 months for patients with a good prognosis, 6 months for those with an intermediate prognosis and 2.5 months for poor-prognosis patients (P = 0.0002). Therapy was well tolerated. The median WHO grade of haematological toxicity was 2 (range, 0-4). Only 10/226 (4%) courses were delayed due to leukopenia. Blood transfusions followed 18/226 (8%) courses. Intravenous antibiotics were given following 15/226 (7%) courses. No patient required platelet support. Poor-risk patients who have a good or intermediate Manchester prognostic score may benefit from this low-toxicity regimen.
Anderson
H
H
CRC Department Medical Oncology, Christie Hospital, Manchester.
Lind
M J
MJ
Thatcher
N
N
Swindell
R
R
Woodcock
A
A
Carroll
K B
KB
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
D005047:Etoposide; D007069:Ifosfamide