Randomized phase II evaluation of 6 g/m2 of ifosfamide plus doxorubicin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) compared with 12 g/m2 of ifosfamide plus doxorubicin and G-CSF in the treatment of poor-prognosis soft tissue sarcoma.
OBJECTIVE
The relative value of increasing ifosfamide dose in combination chemotherapy for patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of doxorubicin with high-dose (HD) ifosfamide or standard-dose (SD) ifosfamide in patients with STS.


METHODS
Chemotherapy-naive patients with STS were randomly assigned to receive doxorubicin 60 mg/m(2) and either SD ifosfamide (1.5 g/m(2)/d, days 1 through 4) or HD ifosfamide (3.0 g/m(2), days 1 through 4) every 21 days. Patients were stratified by the presence or absence of metastatic disease. End points were overall survival (OS), 1-year disease-free survival (DFS), and toxicity.


RESULTS
The study group consisted of 79 patients (52 patients with localized disease and 27 patients with metastases). Both groups were well-balanced with respect to known prognostic factors. There was no significant difference in 1-year DFS comparing SD ifosfamide with HD ifosfamide (55% v 52%; P = .81). For SD ifosfamide, 2- and 3-year OS were 73% and 52% versus 57% and 49% for HD ifosfamide (P = .34). The incidence of grade 3/4 neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia were 49%, 23%, and 10%, respectively, on the SD ifosfamide arm, compared with 88%, 58%, and 63%, respectively, on the HD ifosfamide arm. There were five early deaths, all on the HD ifosfamide arm.


CONCLUSIONS
When combined with doxorubicin, HD ifosfamide did not improve 1-year DFS and OS. Toxicity was clearly greater with the HD ifosfamide arm, and lack of outcome differences might be explained by toxicities with HD ifosfamide. These results suggest that HD ifosfamide combination regimens should not be used as first-line therapy for patients with STS.
Worden
Francis P
FP
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Taylor
Jeremy M G
JM
Biermann
Janet S
JS
Sondak
Vernon K
VK
Leu
Kirstin M
KM
Chugh
Rashmi
R
McGinn
Cornelius J
CJ
Zalupski
Mark M
MM
Baker
Laurence H
LH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D011379:Prognosis; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D004317:Doxorubicin; D007069:Ifosfamide