PURPOSE: To evaluate the response rates, toxicitiesy, and survival rates, to vinorelbine (Navelbine(R)), cisplatin and ifosfamide combination chemotherapy, of the patients with inoperable NSCLC (stage III and IV), who received vinorelbine (Navelbine(R)), cisplatin, ifosfamide combinationthe mentioned chemotherapy every 4 weeks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 26 patients with inoperable NSCLC (stage III and IV), who attended St. Vincent's Hospital Bbetween April 1999 and December 2001, 26 patients were included at St.Vincent's Hospital. The chemotherapy regimen consisted of vinorelbine (25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8), ifosfamide (1,500 mg/m2 on days 1- and 2 with mesna), and cisplatin (30 mg/m2 on days 1- to 3). The cycles were administered every 4 weeks. A 25% reduction in the doses reduction was applied into subsequent courses if there werewas grade 3~4 neutropenia. RESULTS: The median age was 63 (range, 44~73) years and the male : to female ratio was 19 : 7. One patient had stage IIIa, 6 had stage IIIb and 19 had stage IV. Twenty two patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1, andwith 4 hadhave one of 2. Eighteen of the patients had adenocarcinoma, 7 had squamous cell carcinomas, and 1 had an undifferentiated NSCLC. Two patients were innot able to be evaluatedble due to follow-up loss. Among Of the 24 patients able to be evaluatedble patients, 1 patient had a complete response and 9 patients hada partial responses, and thewith an overall response rate wasof 41.7%. During a total of 104 cycles, grade 3 neutropenia occurred in 29%, grade 4 neutropenia in 12%, grade 3~4 thrombocytopenia in 4%, grade 3 anemia in 11%, and grade 3~4 mucositis in 2%. The mean time to progression was 6.4 months (range 1~13) and the median overall survival was 10 months (range 1.5~32). CONCLUSION: The combination of vinorelbine, ifosfamide and cisplatin, in the dose and schedule employed in this study, shows an response rate of 41.7%, but, because grade 3- or 4 neutropenia occurred in 41%, a careful investigation is needed.
Adenocarcinoma ; Anemia ; Appointments and Schedules ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ifosfamide* ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Mucositis ; Neutropenia ; Survival Rate ; Thrombocytopenia