Phase II Trial of Doxorubicin Plus Escalated High-Dose Ifosfamide in Patients With Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcomas of the Adult: A Study of the Spanish Group for Research on Sarcomas (GEIS)

• Main Authors: A. López-Pousa, J. Martín, J. Montalar, R. de las Peñas, J. García del Muro, J. Cruz, J. Maurel, P. Escudero, A. Casado, J. M. Buesa, the Spanish Group for Research on Sarcomas (GEIS)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2006-01-01
• Series: Sarcoma
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/SRCM/2006/26986
• ISSN: 1357-714X; 1369-1643

Background. To explore the tolerance and the activity of high-dose ifosfamide (IFOS) combined with doxorubicin (DXR) at 50 mg/m2 every 4 weeks in patients with soft tissue sarcomas. Methods. DXR was given IV bolus and IFOS by continuous infusion at 2 g/m2/day. Initial IFOS dose (12 g/m2) was adjusted to 10, 13, or 14 g/m2 according to toxicity. Results. Seventy patients received 277 cycles (median 3 cycles, range 1–10), 34% with IFOS dose increased, 30% decreased, and 48% delivered at 12 g/m2. Toxicity grade 4 occurred on granulocytes (67% of patients) or platelets (19%), 54% had febrile neutropenia, 31% grade 3/4 asthenia, and 26% abandoned the study due to toxicity. Three toxic deaths occurred. In 57 non-GIST patients objective activity was 45.6% (95% CI, 32 to 58%). Conclusion. At least 4 cycles were tolerated by 71% of patients, most receiving DXR 50 mg/m2 plus IFOS 10–12 g/m2, with substantial toxicity.