title: High-dose ifosfamide by infusion with Mesna in advanced refractory sarcomas.
abstract: Twenty patients with advanced sarcomas entered a pilot study with ifosfamide (IF) and mercaptoethane sulfonate sodium (Mesna) as a second-line treatment for six planned cycles. All patients had received prior doxorubicin- and cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapies. IF was administered at a dose of 3 g/m2 given as continuous intravenous infusion for 24 hr on day 1-5 with Mesna. In the absence of disease progression, chemotherapy was planned to be repeated every 4 weeks for six consecutive cycles. Following chemotherapy, only 2 patients (11%) achieved partial response with response durations of 6 and 9 months. There was no complete response. When considered for only high-grade tumors, the response rate reached up to 22%. Toxicity was reported for 48 cycles and the dose-limiting toxicities were myelosuppression (22%) and encephalopathy (17%). Chemotherapy protocol was changed after two or three courses in 16 patients with stable or progressive disease. IF/Mesna chemotherapy at this dose and schedule was not found to be very promising in refractory sarcomas as a second-line chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University, Institute of Oncology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Güllü
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yalçin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tekuzman
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barişta
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alkiş
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zengin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Güler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kars
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baltali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D015080:Mesna / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D015080:Mesna; D007069:Ifosfamide