PHASE-II CLINICAL-TRIAL OF CARBOPLATIN, IFOSFAMIDE, WITH ORAL MESNA FOR METASTATIC BREAST-CARCINOMA

Twenty-five women with advanced breast carcinoma refractory to first-l ine chemotherapy entered a phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy of ifosfamide and carboplatin. Additionally the trial assessed the clinic al usefulness of oral 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (mesna)for urothelial protection. Two partial remissions were observed (8%); toxicity was s ignificant but acceptable, with no treatment-related deaths. The combi nation of ifosfamide and carboplatin had little activity as the second -line treatment in our population of patients with heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer. Oral mesna was effective for urothelial prot ection, permitting outpatient administration of ifosfamide.