PURPOSE
We conducted a phase II study of vinorelbine and ifosfamide combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to evaluate response rate, response duration, and toxicities of this regimen.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From June 1998 to March 2000, twenty seven patients with advanced or recurrent non- small cell lung cancer (stage IIIB and IV) who had no prior systemic chemotherapy were enrolled in this study.
All patients were treated with vinorelbine and ifosfamide combination chemotherapy (vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 i.v.
days 1 & 8, and ifosfamide 2 g/m2 i.v. days 1~3 with Mesna 1600 mg/m2). Each cycle was repeated every 21 days.
RESULTS
All twenty seven patients were eligible and assessable. Age ranged from 41 to 72 (median 57 years).
14 patients were male and 13 were female. Overall response rate was 33.3%. One complete response (3.7%) and 8 partial responses (29.6%) were observed. Stable disease was 15 (55.6%) and progressive disease was 3 (11.1%). Overall median survival duration was 7.8 months.
The median progression-free and response durations were 6.6 months and 3.5 months respectively. World Health Organization grade 3 to 4 neutropenia occurred in 6.5%. Nonhematologic toxicities including nausea/vomiting, nephropathy and hepatopathy were generally grade 1 or 2.
CONCLUSION
The combination chemotherapy with vinorelbine and ifosfamide in the patients with advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer can be considered as an effective and safe treatment.