Ifosfamide is an inactive substance in the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma. The Gastrointestinal Tumor Study Group.

The Gastrointestinal Tumor Study Group (GITSG) investigated the efficacy of ifosfamide with mesna uroprotection in 30 patients with advanced inoperable pancreatic carcinoma that was confirmed histologically. All patients were required to have at least one bidimensional measurable lesion that could be followed by palpation or radiologic examination. Genitourinary toxicity presenting as hematuria occurred in five patients, but was not severe enough to curtail treatment in any of these patients. The major toxicity was neurologic, with 12 patients (41%) reporting at least one episode; four of which were graded as severe and two as fatal. Three partial tumor responses to treatment were reported (10%) and the median survival time was just 11 weeks. In our experience, ifosfamide with mesna uroprotection does not appear to be active in pancreatic carcinoma.