Etoposide and ifosfamide in combination for inoperable carcinoma of the bronchus

Abstract

Etoposide now ranks amongst the most important drugs for the treatment of primary or secondary resistant inoperable bronchogenic carcinoma as well as in patients with prior cardiac disease, since it can be combined with CCNU and vincristine for an outpatient therapeutic schedule, and with ifosfamide or cis-platinum for intensive hospital treatment. In the present study of a group of 38 patients with inoperable bronchogenic carcinoma of diverse histological types treated with etoposide plus ifosfamide resulted in: (a) an increase in the survival time in one very unfavorable patients group either with previous cardiac damage or intensive prior treatment; (b) no cross-resistance of etoposide and ifosfamide with the ACO regimen; (c) demonstration that use of Mesnum makes higher ifosfamide doses possible. Although this group of patients was inoperable and had prior heart damage, the prognosis was considerably improved. Etoposide now ranks amongst the most important drugs for the treatment of primary or secondary resistant inoperable bronchogenic carcinoma as well as in patients with prior cardiac disease, since it can be combined with CCNU and vincristine for an outpatient therapeutic schedule, and with ifosfamide or cis-platinum for intensive hospital treatment. In the present study of a group of 38 patients with inoperable bronchogenic carcinoma of diverse histological types treated with etoposide plus ifosfamide resulted in: (a) an increase in the survival time in one very unfavorable patients group either with previous cardiac damage or intensive prior treatment; (b) no cross-resistance of etoposide and ifosfamide with the ACO regimen; (c) demonstration that use of Mesnum makes higher ifosfamide doses possible. Although this group of patients was inoperable and had prior heart damage, the prognosis was considerably improved.