A FEASIBILITY, TOXICITY, AND EARLY RESPONSE STUDY OF ETOPOSIDE, IFOSFAMIDE, AND VINCRISTINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH RHABDOMYOSARCOMA - A REPORT FROM THE INTERGROUP RHABDOMYOSARCOMA STUDY (IRS)IV PILOT-STUDY

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility, t oxicity, and early response of patients with clinical group III rhabdo myosarcoma (RMS) to a chemotherapy regimen of etoposide (ETOP), ifosfa mide (IFOS), and vincristine (VCR) with hyperfractionated radiation th erapy (XRT). Patients and Methods: Sixty-eight patients aged <21 years , previously untreated, with clinical group III RMS or undifferentiate d sarcoma with normal organ function were eligible for this study. Che motherapy was as follows: weeks 0-8: IFOS 1.8 g/m(2)/day x 5 days ever y 3 weeks x 3 (with mesna), ETOP 100 mg/m(2)/day x 5 days every 3 week s x 3, and VCR 1.5 mg/m(2)/week x 9; weeks 9-16: hyperfractionated XRT (except patients with parameningeal tumors with meningeal extension, who received XRT on day 0), IFOS/mesna weeks 9, 12, 16, and VCR weeks 9, 10, 11, 12, 16; weeks 20-99: IFOS/mesna q 3 weeks x 2, ETOP q 3 wee ks x 2, and VCR weekly x 6 weeks. Four drug cycles were repeated every 9 weeks, beginning at week 29. In January 1991, the duration of thera py was reduced to 12 courses due to emerging evidence of IFOS-induced renal tubular dysfunction. Results: Of the 62 patients evaluable for r esponse, 45 (73%) achieved a complete response. There were three fatal toxicities due to infection. Life-threatening neutropenia was seen in 55 of 60 patients, and life-threatening infections occurred in 27 of 60 patients. Twenty-five patients (42%) developed some degree of neuro toxicity from vincristine. Eleven patients (18%) developed nephrotoxic ity, 7 cases of which were severe; 6 of the 11 patients who developed nephrotoxicity were <2 years old. Conclusions: This pilot study had to xicity and response rates comparable to the other two Intergroup Rhabd omyosarcoma Study (IRS)-IV pilot trials of vincristine-actinomycin-cyc lophosphamide and vincristine-actinomycin-ifosfamide and is, therefore , being evaluated in the current IRS randomized trial. Due to the high incidence of life-threatening neutropenia and infections, the use of growth factors is now routine. Five of 11 patients who developed nephr otoxicity did so after more than eight courses of IFOS; therefore, the current randomized trial limits IFOS to a total of eight courses.