Low dose adriamycin and ifosfamide in the treatment of advanced adult soft tissue sarcomas.
BACKGROUND
Soft tissue sarcomas are infrequent tumors (up to 1% of all neoplasms) in adult patients. Treatment of advanced disease is largely unsatisfactory. Only a few drugs are active agents and combination regimens offer limited and short-lived activity. High dose chemotherapy may be administered only to limited groups of patients.


METHODS
We evaluated, in a phase II study, the adriamycin and ifosfamide combination regimen. The drugs were administered at 60 mg/sqm and 6 g/sqm dosage, respectively. The total number of treated patients was 42 of which 40 were evaluable.


RESULTS
We observed 6 complete responses (14% response rate) and 6 partial responses (14%). The mean survival was 6 months (median 7.6 months). Toxicity was limited and reversible.


CONCLUSIONS
While high dose chemotherapy may be reserved for selected groups of patients, an adriamycin and ifosfamide combination regimen at conventional doses can be administered to the great majority of patients with suboptimal performance status or with advanced age.
Medical Oncology Department, Ospedale Gradenigo, Torino, Italy.
A
A
Comandone
S
S
Bretti
O
O
Bertetto
C
C
Oliva
P
P
Bergnolo
C
C
Bumma
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004317:Doxorubicin; D007069:Ifosfamide