title: Phase II trial of neoadjuvant vincristine, ifosfamide, and doxorubicin with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support in children and adolescents with advanced-stage nonrhabdomyosarcomatous soft tissue sarcomas: a Pediatric Oncology Group Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the response rate and survival of children and adolescents with unresected or metastatic nonrhabdomyosarcomatous soft tissue sarcomas (NRSTS) treated with vincristine, ifosfamide, and doxorubicin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between September 1996 and June 2000, 39 eligible patients received vincristine (1.5 mg/m(2) weekly for 13 doses), ifosfamide (3 g/m(2) daily for 3 days every 3 weeks for seven cycles), doxorubicin (30 mg/m(2) daily for 2 days for six cycles), and mesna (750 mg/m(2) for four doses after ifosfamide). Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was administered daily (5 mug/kg) after each cycle of chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was administered from weeks 7 through 12.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median patient age at diagnosis was 11.7 years; the most common primary tumor site was lower extremity (36%); and synovial sarcoma was the predominant histology. More than three fourths of all tumors were 5 cm or greater at their largest diameters. The overall objective combined partial and complete response rate was 41% (95% CI, 25.7% to 56.7%). The estimated 3-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates (+/- standard deviation) for eligible patients were 59% +/- 8.2% and 43.6% +/- 7%, respectively. Patients with clinical group III disease had significantly better 3-year and progression-free survival rates compared with patients who presented with metastatic disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vincristine, ifosfamide, and doxorubicin regimen was moderately active against pediatric NRSTS. Patients with synovial sarcoma had higher response rates than other patients, and patients with unresected disease had improved outcomes. Patients with metastatic disease continue to fare poorly, and newer approaches are indicated for these patients.
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G1X8, Canada. alberto.pappo@sickkids.ca
authors.forename: Alberto S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Pappo
authors.forename: Meenakshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Devidas
authors.forename: Jessee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Bhaskar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gebhardt
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: Holcombe E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Grier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D015080:Mesna / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D020011:Protective Agents; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D015080:Mesna; D007069:Ifosfamide