mesna and Carcinoma--Small-Cell

Many investigators have reported the dose and schedule of VP-16 administration, but as yet they remain undetermined. VP-16 is one of the most active agents for several carcinomas and usually administered intravenously over 3 to 5 consecutive days in combination with other agents. Although, the development of new drugs recently reduces the use of VP-16 administration, VP-16 is still an important drug for the treatment of lung cancer and malignant lymphoma. In this paper, the combination therapy with VP-16, especially in the treatment of lung cancer and malignant lymphoma, are reviewed.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cisplatin; Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; Cytarabine; Etoposide; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Lymphoma; Mesna; Methylprednisolone; Mitoxantrone

Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) is increasingly being treated in the district general hospital setting. The search for an active regimen which can be given with the least toxicity and best outcomes led us to use a modified ICE (Ifosfamide, Carboplatin and Etoposide) regimen and modify it further by using oral mesna instead of intravenous mesna.. All patients selected to receive the modified ICE regime over a 5-year period were included in our study. All patients were assessed for performance status and prognostic factors. Only those with WHO performance status 0-1 and Manchester prognostic score 0-3 were considered for ICE chemotherapy. All patients were followed up for 1 year after recruitment was completed.. Median survival for all 32 patients was 18.4 months (CI 12.2-24.6) and for the 28 patients with limited disease the median survival was 19.9 months (CI 8.2-31.6). Toxicity levels were low with no neutropenic deaths. One patient died three days after treatment was started due to disease progression. A total of 6 patients remained alive one year after recruitment was completed. Five out of the 6 were followed up for at least 2 years.. Using this out-patient modified ICE regime we have achieved a median survival comparable to other active chemotherapy regimes for SCLC with no significant increase in toxicity.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Etoposide; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged; Outpatients; Prognosis; Survival

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is exquisitely chemosensitive, but few patients are cured by conventional chemoradiotherapy. Recent studies suggest that increased cytotoxic dose-intensity might improve survival. In this randomized phase II study, we tested the feasibility of dose intensification using sequential reinfusion of hematopoietic progenitors in whole blood.. SCLC patients with a favorable prognosis were treated with six cycles of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE), at 4-week (standard treatment) or 2-week (intensified treatment) intervals. Intensified treatment was supported by daily subcutaneous filgrastim injections and reinfusion of 750 mL of autologous blood collected immediately before each cycle.. Fifty consecutive patients were randomized to standard (n = 25) or intensified (n = 25) ICE. A total of 94% completed at least three treatment cycles, and 70% completed six cycles; 96% of treatments were given at full dose. The planned dose-intensity was 1.0 for standard and 2.0 for intensified ICE. The median received dose-intensity for cycles 1 through 3 was 0.99 (range, 0.33 to 1.02) for the standard treatment arm and 1.80 (range, 0.99 to 1.97) for the intensified treatment arm (P <.001). Over all six cycles, the median received dose-intensity was 0.95 (range, 0.17 to 1.03) for the standard treatment arm and 1.60 (range, 0.60 to 2.01) for the intensified treatment arm (P <.001). Febrile neutropenia was more common on the standard treatment arm (84% v 56%), resulting in more days of intravenous antibiotics (median, 10 v 3 days; P =.035). Transfusion requirements were similar in the two groups.. Sequential reinfusion of hematopoietic progenitors in whole blood can safely support substantial increases in dose-intensity of ICE chemotherapy for SCLC.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Blood Platelets; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Combined Modality Therapy; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Etoposide; Female; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged; Platelet Count; Quality of Life

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Costs; Etoposide; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Ifosfamide; India; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Poverty; Survival Analysis; Survival Rate; Treatment Outcome; Vincristine

A prospective randomized trial in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) was performed to determine if intensification of the platinum dose by giving cisplatin and carboplatin in combination to patients with SCLC yields higher response rates and survival, than carboplatin alone in a combination chemotherapy regimen.. Between September 1992 and October 1997, 280 patients were included in a two armed prospective randomized trial, stratified by stage of disease, LDH and performance status. The treatment was in arm A: three courses induction chemotherapy with carboplatin (AUC = 4, day 1), cisplatin (35 mg/m2, days 2 and 3), teniposide (50 mg/m2, day 1-5), vincristine (1.3 mg/m2, day 1) every four weeks, followed by cyclophosphamide (3 g/m2, day 84), 4-epirubicin (4-epidoxorubicin) (150 mg/m2, day 112), and finally one course cisplatin, carboplatin, teniposide and vincristine, (days 140-144). Arm B also comprised a total of six courses, identical to those in arm A except for omission of cisplatin.. There were no significant differences in the overall treatment outcome for A vs. B, in terms of response rates (72% in both arms), complete response rates (40% and 34%, respectively), or median survival (314 days and 294 days, respectively). However, for patients with limited disease both the CR rate (54% vs. 37%, P < 0.05), overall survival (log-rank test, P < 0.05), and the two-year survival rate (11% vs. 6%, P < 0.05) were higher in the high-dose platinum arm compared to the carboplatin alone arm.. The intensification of platinum dose (cisplatin plus carboplatin) in combination chemotherapy significantly increased the complete response rate, overall survival and number of two-year survivors among SCLC patients with limited disease compared to combination therapy with carboplatin alone, suggesting that a more aggressive treatment to this category of patients is worthwhile, while no difference in treatment outcome was observed for patients with extensive disease.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cisplatin; Cyclophosphamide; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Epirubicin; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Survival Analysis; Teniposide; Treatment Outcome; Vincristine

The oxazaphosphorine antineoplastic ifosfamide (IF) is metabolized by two different initial pathways: ring oxidation ("activation"), forming 4-OH-IF ("activated IF"), and side-chain oxidation with liberation of chloroacetaldehyde (CAA), forming the inactive metabolites 3-dechloroethylifosfamide or 2-dechloroethylifosfamide (3-DCE-IF, 2-DCE-IF). 4-OH-IF and 4-OH-IF-derived acrolein are thought to be responsible for IF-induced urotoxicity (hemorrhagic cystitis), whereas CAA may be involved in IF-associated nephrotoxicity (renal tubular damage). The thiol compound 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate sodium (mesna) has proved to inactivate sufficiently the urotoxic metabolites of oxazaphosphorine cytostatics and is therefore routinely given to patients receiving IF chemotherapy. The cumulative urinary excretion of IF, 4-OH-IF, 3-DCE-IF, 2-DCE-IF, mesna, and its disulfide dimesna was studied in 11 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma receiving IF on a 5-day divided-dose schedule (1.5 g/m2 daily) with concomitant application of mesna (0.3 g/m2 at 0,4, and 8 h after IF infusion). On day 1 the mean cumulative 24-h urinary recoveries (percentage of the IF dose) recorded for IF, 4-OH-IF, 3-DCE-IF, and 2-DCE-IF were 13.9%, 0.52%, 4.8%, and 1.5%, respectively. On day 5 the corresponding values were 12.2%, 0.74%, 9.9%, and 3.6%, respectively. This time-dependent increase in urinary excretion of IF metabolites, which is caused by rapid autoinduction of hepatic oxidative metabolism, may result in a higher probability for the development of urotoxic and nephrotoxic side effects during prolonged IF application. The mean 24-h urinary recoveries (percentage of the daily mesna dose) recorded for mesna/dimesna on day 1 (day 5) were 23.8%/45.2% (21.2%/39.8%), respectively. The mean molar excess of urinary reduced ("free") mesna over 4-OH-IF ranged from 11 to 72 on day 1 and from 6 to 40 on day 5. This indicates that although urinary excretion of 4-OH-IF rises with repeated IF application, mesna in standard doses should sufficiently inactivate the urotoxic IF metabolites.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Biotransformation; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cyclophosphamide; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged

Alternating chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer has been tested in several studies. Some have shown positive results that have not been confirmed in other studies. In all of the studies, however, the degree of non-cross-resistance in the regimens was questionable. The EORTC Lung Cancer Study Group developed two equipotent regimens: (i) standard (CDE)-cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, etoposide; (ii) (VIMP)-vincristine, carboplatin, ifosfamide, mesna, both non-cross-resistance. These two combinations were alternated and compared with the standard chemotherapy regimen in a group of 143 patients with extensive small cell lung cancer. Median survival was 7.6 months in the standard arm and 8.7 in the alternating arm (P = 0.243). Median time to progression was 5.8 and 6.4 months, respectively (P = 0.166). Median response duration was 7.0 and 6.8 months (P = 0.221). The use of two alternating regimens with a proven degree of non-cross-resistance did not result in any improvement in survival in patients with extensive small cell lung cancer.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Blood Cells; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cyclophosphamide; Disease Progression; Doxorubicin; Etoposide; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Survival Analysis; Vincristine

Recombinant human erythropoietin (r-Hu-EPO) is known to be effective in untreated cancer patients. Here we assess the possibility that r-Hu-EPO may also prevent or reduce anemia in patients who receive cytotoxic chemotherapy.. Thirty-six patients with small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) were enrolled onto a three-arm, randomized trial to investigate the effect of r-Hu-EPO on hemoglobin (Hb) levels and RBC and platelet (Plt) transfusions during chemotherapy. Bone marrow progenitors were studied before and after treatment. Two groups of patients received r-Hu-EPO at a dose of either 150 IU/kg (group 150) or 300 IU/kg (group 300) three times per week for the duration of chemotherapy. A control group did not receive r-Hu-EPO (group O). A maximum of six cycles of a chemotherapy regimen that consisted of vincristine, ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (VICE) were given to all patients. Hematologic parameters were measured weekly, and RBC or Plt transfusions were given for Hb levels less than 9 g/dL and Plt counts less than 20 x 10(9)/L.. Hb levels decreased in all patients, but onset of anemia was delayed in groups that received r-Hu-EPO (P = .002). A total of 116 U RBC were transfused in group 0, 54 in group 150, and 52 in group 300 (P = .017). In addition, there was a nonsignificant trend toward higher Plt counts and fewer Plt transfusions in patients who received r-Hu-EPO.. r-Hu-EPO at a dose of either 150 or 300 IU/kg three times weekly delays the onset of anemia and reduces RBC transfusion requirements in patients who undergo intensive chemotherapy for SCLC. A possible effect of r-Hu-EPO on platelet numbers deserves further study.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anemia; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Colony-Forming Units Assay; Drug Administration Schedule; Erythrocyte Transfusion; Erythropoietin; Etoposide; Female; Granulocytes; Hemoglobin A; Humans; Ifosfamide; Iron; Leukocyte Count; Lung Neoplasms; Macrophages; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged; Platelet Count; Platelet Transfusion; Recombinant Proteins; Vincristine

The Goldie-Coldman hypothesis of alternating non-cross resistant combination chemotherapy regimens for small-cell lung cancer has never been adequately evaluated. In previously reported studies non-cross resistance and/or equipotency of the combinations used had not been tested before the phase III study was started. We describe two combination chemotherapy regimens with comparable efficacy against small-cell lung cancer and present a phase II test of their possible non-cross resistance. Patients clinically resistant to cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and etoposide (CDE), were treated with the second-line regimen consisting of vincristine, ifosfamide, mesna and carboplatin (VIMP) (n = 25). This resulted in 1 complete and 14 partial responses, response rate 60% [95% confidence interval (CI): 38.7-78.9%]. Patients clinically resistant to vincristine, carboplatin (n = 22) or ifosfamide, mesna, carboplatin (n = 21) were treated with CDE, resulting in 6 complete responses and 16 partial responses, response rate 51% (95% CI: 35.5-66.7%). The clinical value of such a degree of non-cross resistance has to be evaluated in a phase III study.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cyclophosphamide; Doxorubicin; Drug Resistance; Etoposide; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Vincristine

In this report, the results of two phase II studies and one pilot study of second-line carboplatin-based chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer are described. Carboplatin plus vincristine given with or without ifosfamide resulted in response rates of 36% and 53%, respectively, in so-called chemotherapy-resistant patients. Toxicity of the carboplatin/vincristine regimen was mild (hematologic toxicity grade 4 was seen with 13% of the courses), whereas the combination including ifosfamide resulted in grade 4 thrombocytopenia in 57% of the courses and grade 4 leukocytopenia in 49%. A partial response was seen in one of nine patients with progression of brain metastases after chemotherapy, and in three patients the neurologic function score improved, with minor tumor reduction evident on computed tomography scan of the brain. We conclude that carboplatin is a useful agent for second-line chemotherapy in patients with an early relapse after induction chemotherapy.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Brain Neoplasms; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; Cyclophosphamide; Doxorubicin; Etoposide; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Remission Induction; Survival Rate; Vincristine

Two studies were carried out (A and B) in order to assess the effectiveness of ifosfamide administered with mesna (IFO/M) in the treatment of small cell lung cancer. The first study (A) was a cross-over study; the second (B) was a randomized trial, and in B IFO/M was evaluated earlier in the course of the disease. IFO/M given be infusion is effective as second-line therapy and can be administered with other cytotoxics at the doses reported here earlier in the course of the disease. The complete remission rates were high.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Drug Evaluation; Humans; Ifosfamide; Infusions, Intravenous; Lung Neoplasms; Mercaptoethanol; Mesna

Eighteen patients with untreated small-cell cancer of the lung have been treated with cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg on two occasions at an interval of four weeks. An additional eight patients received etoposide in addition to cyclophosphamide. Measurements of tumor volume were made by thoracic computed tomographic (CT) scan before and after each cycle. When compared with our previous study in which only one cycle of cyclophosphamide was given, the double procedure did not increase response rate, decrease the incidence of local relapse, or prolong the relapse-free interval. Survival after relapse was shorter with two cycles of chemotherapy mainly due to greater difficulty in administering further chemotherapy. The CT scans showed a decrease in tumor volume from 99.2 cc to 21 cc after the first cycle, but a smaller decrease to 14.1 cc after the second. These results show that the rapid emergence of drug resistance imposes limitations on the use of very high-dose cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cyclophosphamide; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged; Time Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

To evaluate the impact of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) priming on peripheral-blood cell counts during standard-dose chemotherapy.. Twelve patients with relapsed small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) were treated with two chemotherapy courses. Six patients received G-CSF priming only before the first course (group A) and the other six patients only before the second course (group B). Each patient served as his own control. Patients were treated with cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and etoposide (CEE), or with vincristine, ifosfamide, mesna, and carboplatin (VIMP) every 4 weeks. G-CSF was administered subcutaneously 5 microg/kg/d for 6 days until 48 hours before the first or second chemotherapy course.. Priming caused a lowering of the WBC nadir, with a median value of 0.95 x 10(9)/L (P = .004), and of absolute neutrophil nadir, with a median value of 0.48 x 10(9)/L (P = .03). There was a trend for a lower platelet (PLT) nadir after G-CSF priming (P = .09). G-CSF priming resulted in a prolonged duration of WBC count less than 3.0 x 10(9)/L of +4.25 days (P = .04), and of WBC count less than 1.0 x 10(9)/L of +0.50 days (P = .03). The duration of neutropenia less than 0.5 x 10(9)/L seemed longer in primed courses (+3.75 days, P = .18). The duration of PLT counts less than 100 x 10(9)/L was prolonged by 1.5 days (P = .04). Hemoglobin (Hgb) levels were not influenced by G-CSF priming.. G-CSF administration until 48 hours before the next chemotherapy course increases chemotherapy-associated leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia. This may be of special concern when G-CSF is administered during dose-densified chemotherapy.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bone Marrow; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cyclophosphamide; Epirubicin; Etoposide; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Mesna; Prospective Studies; Recombinant Proteins; Vincristine

Small cell carcinoma of the pancreas is a very rare malignancy with 18 cases reported in the literature, of which only 3 were treated with chemotherapy. A 52-year-old man was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma originating in the head of the pancreas and invading the duodenum. He was treated with a similar approach as for localized small cell lung cancer, with six cycles of combination chemotherapy and local radiotherapy, and went into complete remission. After 3 months, he developed liver metastases along with an enlarged left supraclavicular lymph node. He was treated with two cycles of CVA, but developed lung metastases and was treated with ifosfamide/mesna. However, his overall condition deteriorated and hospice care was instituted until the patient's demise. The patient survived 14 months following diagnosis, significantly longer than the 15 reported patients with small cell pancreatic carcinomas not treated with chemotherapy. Combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy as it is utilized for small cell lung cancer appear to be beneficial for small cell carcinoma of the pancreas.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Combined Modality Therapy; Cyclophosphamide; Doxorubicin; Duodenal Neoplasms; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Radiotherapy Dosage; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vincristine

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Etoposide; Hematuria; Humans; Ifosfamide; Male; Mesna; Quadriplegia; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

Fourteen patients with extensive disease small cell bronchogenic carcinoma (SCBC) received ifosfamide at 2,000 mg/m2/day for 5 consecutive days with simultaneous mesna and vincristine while 26 patients with extensive disease non-small-cell bronchogenic carcinoma (N-SCBC) received the same regimen without vincristine. Eight partial responses (57%) were observed with a 40-week median survival in the case of SCBC and four partial remissions (15%) with a 31-week median survival in N-SCBC. Granulocytopenia was the dose-limiting toxicity, whereas urotoxicity was well controlled with mesna. Neuropsychiatric toxicity consisted of anxiety, agitation, confusion, and hallucination. Neurobehavioral testing detected worsened performance during ifosfamide treatment. Ifosfamide is one of the few active agents in N-SCBC.

Topics: Aged; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mercaptoethanol; Mesna; Middle Aged; Survival Rate; Urologic Diseases; Vincristine

Fifty patients with histologically confirmed advanced malignancies were treated with ifosfamide and mesna plus other cytostatics. The other cytostatic drugs added to the treatment regimen were cisplatin (36 pts), etoposide (31 pts) and doxorubicin (20 pts). Among previously untreated patients objective response was documented in 12 of 19 pts with ovarian cancer, 9 of 14 with small cell cancer of the lung and in all 3 pts with Ewing's sarcoma. Among patients with disease refractory to prior cytostatic treatment, objective response was documented in 8 of 9 with testicular cancer, 1 of 3 with high grade lymphoma and 0 of 2 with osteosarcoma. Side-effects due to the combination of ifosfamide plus mesna and other cytostatics were acceptable. No life-threatening or lethal toxicities occurred. Most commonly encountered toxicities were leukopenia (64%), nausea and vomiting (84%), alopecia (63%), CNS toxicity (30%) and renal toxicity (12%).

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Alopecia; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cisplatin; Etoposide; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Leukopenia; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged; Nausea; Ovarian Neoplasms; Sarcoma, Ewing; Testicular Neoplasms; Vomiting

Twelve patients with advanced small cell carcinoma of the bronchus were treated by continuous infusion of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rh G-CSF) at the following dose levels: 1 microgram, 5 micrograms, 10 micrograms, 20 micrograms and 40 micrograms/kg/day for 5 days. No toxicities resulted from the treatment and in all 12 patients the number of peripheral neutrophils increased rapidly to a maximum of 100 x 10(9)/l in one patient at 10 micrograms/kg/day. The neutrophils were shown to be functionally normal in tests of their mobility and bactericidal activity. During the Phase II part of the patients were treated using a combination of i.v. Adriamycin, Ifosfamide and Etoposide. The chemotherapy was repeated every 3 weeks. rh G-CSF was given to each patient for 14 days on alternate cycles of chemotherapy and reduced the period of absolute neutropenia considerably (median of 80%), with a return to normal, or above normal, neutrophil counts within 2 weeks after day 1 of chemotherapy. Ten severe infective episodes were observed during the 20 cycles of chemotherapy which did not include rh G-CSF, while only one infective episode occurred in 20 courses when treated with rh G-CSF. These results demonstrate the utility of rh G-CSF in restoring functional neutrophils to patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Colony-Stimulating Factors; Doxorubicin; Drug Evaluation; Etoposide; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Hemoglobins; Humans; Ifosfamide; Leukocyte Count; Lung Neoplasms; Mesna; Neutrophils; Platelet Count; Recombinant Proteins

Eight-eight previously untreated patients with small cell lung cancer were treated with a combination of VP16, adriamycin and vincristine (VPAV) for three courses. Resistance to these drugs is associated with the multidrug resistance (MDR) membrane glycoprotein in cell lines in vitro. The clinical relevance of this mechanism of resistance was assessed by using a second line treatment with intravenous infusions of ifosfamide/mesna 5 g/m2 every 3 weeks in patients with only partial responses or non-responders. Cross-resistance to alkylating agents is rare in the MDR. Ifosfamide produced partial responses in six (43%) of 14 patients unresponsive to prior therapy. Intravenously infused ifosfamide/mesna was also used in consolidation therapy with only minor bone marrow or urinary tract toxicity. This did not prevent CNS relapse. The overall response rate to VPAV was 69% and for all treatment modalities, 75%. Median survival for all patients ws 39.5 weeks and 59 weeks for all patients attaining complete response. The addition of large fraction chest irradiation given with the final course of induction chemotherapy to those with good chemotherapy responses produced a further response in 44% of assessable patients. Combined modality treatment resulted in moderate and reversible toxicity. The lack of improved survival with ifosfamide and the resistance of the majority of patients to salvage with ifosfamide/mesna suggested that the MDR is not the major mechanism of resistance in the clinic, since cross-resistance to alkylating agents of this type is not a feature of MDR cells.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Combined Modality Therapy; Doxorubicin; Drug Resistance; Etoposide; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged; Vincristine

Topics: Adult; Aged; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Carmustine; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged

One hundred sixty-three patients with small cell lung cancer were treated with six courses, at 3-week intervals, of ifosfamide (5 g/m2) with mesna and etoposide. Thoracic radiotherapy was delivered to the limited stage (LS) patients. The complete response rate (CR, determined clinically and radiologically) was 76% for the 78 LS patients with a further 14% partial response (PR). The majority of the CRs were confirmed on a follow-up bronchoscopy. The CR rate was 27% for extensive stage (ES) patients with another 38% undergoing a partial response. The median survival for LS patients was 11 months, (16 months for CR confirmed by rebronchoscopy) and 8 months for ES patients. The 2-year actuarial survival for LS patients is 27%, follow-up ranges from 12 months to 30 months with a median of 22 months. Toxicity was not severe for the patient population, of whom only 20% had a good performance status before chemotherapy. Parental antibiotics were required on 4% of all 844 chemotherapy courses and 12% of courses were delayed due to side effects. The majority of responses occurred within the first two courses of chemotherapy and there was a corresponding improvement in the patients' symptoms and performance status. The regimen produced rapid tumor response with corresponding improvement in symptoms without marked toxicity and allowed further treatment development.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Combined Modality Therapy; Etoposide; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lorazepam; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Metoclopramide; Middle Aged

A combination of vindesine (3 mg/m2, day 1) and ifosfamide (60 mg/kg, days 1-5 + Mesna) was administered every three weeks to 11 patients with primary resistant and 23 with recurrent small-cell bronchial carcinoma. All patients had been pre-treated with chemotherapy, 16 in addition with radiotherapy. At the onset of the vindesine-ifosfamide treatment the cancer was in a localized regional stage in ten patients, while in 24 it was in a more widely spread stage. In 29 patients whose treatment results could be evaluated the remission rate was 38%, with two complete and nine partial remissions. In a further eight patients the cancer was arrested. The patients with complete remission (for 46 and 53 weeks, respectively), those with partial remission (median of 39 weeks) and those with stationary disease (median of 31 weeks) survived significantly longer than those with progressing disease (13 weeks). There was no correlation between treatment result and pre-treatment. On recurrence after complete remission or in the localized regional stage the remission rate was 70% and 60%, respectively, and the survival time was extended in 90% of cases. In addition to nausea, alopecia and myelosuppression, side-effects included vomiting, reversible CNS symptoms, polyneuropathy and urotoxicity. On the basis of acceptable toxicity, combined vindesine and ifosfamide constitute an effective treatment of otherwise treatment-refractory cases of small-cell bronchial carcinoma.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Drug Administration Schedule; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Vindesine

Ifosfamide at 5 g/m2 was given as a bolus to 48 patients with advanced progressing non-small cell lung cancer. Mesna (5 g/m2) was also given with the ifosfamide, both over 30 min. Further mesna was then given p.o. (3 g/m2) at 4, 8, and 12 h. If oral mesna was not acceptable then one or, if necessary, two 4-h to 6-h infusions (3 g/m2) were administered. A maximum of six courses at 3-weekly intervals was prescribed. A total of 174 courses was administered, and oral mesna was given during 64 courses: discharge was considered possible within 8-10 h after 55% of courses. Haematological toxicity was mild and no renal dysfunction was noted. Two patients became drowsy shortly after ifosfamide, but recovered 24-36 h later. The objective response rate was 29%, with one complete responder. A further 31% of patients (symptomatic responders) with stable disease symptomatically improved after the chemotherapy, by 20 or more points on the Karnofsky scale. The median survival was 5 months for the whole group, and 8 months each for the objective and symptomatic responder groups. Most patients' Karnofsky and respiratory scores improved with the chemotherapy. Ifosfamide with mesna can be given by short infusions, and the mesna given p.o. prevents any urothelial toxicity. Further exploration of short-infusion ifosfamide and mesna therapy would reduce hospitalization and allow for day-case regimens.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Injections, Intravenous; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesna; Middle Aged

Topics: Brain Diseases; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cyclophosphamide; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mercaptoethanol; Mesna; Middle Aged; Sarcoma

Topics: Adult; Aged; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cyclophosphamide; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mercaptoethanol; Mesna; Middle Aged