FEASIBILITY AND TOXICITY OF COMBINATION CHEMOTHERAPY WITH IFOSFAMIDE,VINORELBINE, CISPLATIN VERSUS IFOSFAMIDE, VINORELBINE IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER

Vinorelbine (VNB) and Ifosfamide (IFO) have recently been proposed for treatment of non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The two drugs separa tely induce response rates in excess of 20% and, when combined, of 32- 56%. Cisplatin (DDP) is considered a standard in chemotherapy of NSCLC affected patients. We report data on the feasibility and the toxicity of an IFO, VNB and DDP combination in comparison with IFO, VNB associ ation. Results obtained show that the IFO, VNB, DDP combination has a more severe toxicity profile than the IFO, VNB combination although no t to a degree precluding its feasibility. Responses, however, appear s omewhat more favorable than in the group treated with the combination IFO, VNB. It is therefore necessary to ascertain if clinical advantage s in survival and symptom palliation offered by IFO, VNB, DDP combinat ion outweigh impairment in quality of life due to its significant toxi city.