To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of combination chemotherapy using ifosfamide, cisplatin, and etoposide in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).

Thirty-three patients with inoperable NSCLC(stage III b+IV) who had measurable diseases, and had not been treated with chemotherapeutic drugs, were enrolled in this study(from March 1995 to December 1996). The patients received ifosfamide(1500mg/m²/day, a full drop with Mesna on days 1-5), Cisplatin (80mg/m²/day infusion with a hydration on day 2), and Etoposide (100mg/m²/day infusion for 2 hours on days 1-3). The treatment was repeated every 4 weeks.

Ten patients showed a partial responses (30.3%). The overall survival time of the responders was longer than that of the non-responders (median 55 vs 22 weeks, p=0.01). The toxicities of this treatment were tolerable. Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia was observed in 21%. There was 1 death related to febrile neutropenia. The non-hematologic toxicity was mild. The relative dose intensity given to the patients was 0.86 ifosfamide, 0.87 cisplatin, and 0.89 etoposide, showing an average dose intensity of 0.87.

A combination regimen of ifosfamide, cisplatin, and etoposide is effective and tolerable for treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer.