[Phase II study of a three-drug combination of ifosfamide, cisplatin and vindesine in non-small-cell lung cancer].

Between February 1986 and April 1987, we conducted a phase II clinical trial of a three-drug combination of ifosfamide, cisplatin, and vindesine in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. The combination consisted of ifosfamide, 1,300 mg/m2, on days 1 through 5, cisplatin, 20 mg/m2, on days 1 through 5, and vindesine, 3 mg/m2, on days 1 and 8. Courses were repeated at 4-week intervals until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred. Of 21 patients evaluated, one had a complete response and 12 had partial response, with an overall response rate of 62%. The projected median response duration was 30 weeks. The median survival for all patients has not been reached: 14 of 21 patients are still alive with a median follow-up period of 41 weeks (range, 12 to 73 weeks). The major toxicity was myelosuppression. One patient died of septicemia while neutropenic, but the toxicity was well tolerated in the rest. These results indicate that this three-drug combination is active against non-small-cell lung cancer and warrants further clinical trials.