title: Ifosfamide: an active drug in the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
abstract: From April 1982, until February 1984, 29 patients with biopsy-proven and measurable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were treated with ifosfamide. Ifosfamide was administered at a dose of 1.25 to 1.5 g/m2 daily for five consecutive days with courses repeated every three weeks. If no serious toxicity was noted, subsequent dosages were escalated to a maximum of 2.0 g/m2/d. In addition, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (8 to 12 g/d) was administered (in divided daily doses days 1 through 7) as a urothelial protective agent. Nausea and vomiting occurred in the majority of the treated patients. Other toxicities noted were mild myelo-suppression, CNS toxicity, and one case of acute renal failure. One complete response (CR) and five partial responses (PR) were observed in 27 evaluable patients (CRs and PRs = 22%). Ifosfamide has definite activity against pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Doses greater than 1.2 g/m2 for days 1 through 5 can be administered without significant toxicity in the majority of patients. Further trials with ifosfamide alone and/or with other agents are warranted.
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D007069:Ifosfamide; D000111:Acetylcysteine