The place of ifosfamide in chemotherapy of small cell lung cancer: The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group experience and a selected literature update

In a randomized Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study, single-agent ifosfamide used to treat extensive-disease small cell lung cancer patients produced a 49% response rate compared with 56% for patients receiving standard combination chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine). When the drug was combined with carboplatin and etoposide to treat extensive- disease small cell lung cancer patients, overall response rate was 83%, median survival time was 9 months, and 2-year survival rate was 14%. The major toxicity wets myelosuppression. These results confirm those of other investigators who have shown the effectiveness of the ifosfamide/carboplatin/etoposide regimen in treating patients with small cell lung cancer.