Phase II study of cisplatin, ifosfamide, and irinotecan with rhG-CSF support in patients with stage IIIb and IV non-small-cell lung cancer

A phase II study of cisplatin, ifosfamide, and irinotecan with recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) support was conducted in previously untreated patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Between June 1998 and August 2001, 50 patients were registered in this phase II study. Cisplatin (20 mg m(−2)) and ifosfamide (1.5 g m(−2)) were administered on days 1–4 and irinotecan (60 mg m(−2)) was given on days 1, 8, and 15, respectively. This regimen was repeated every 4 weeks. rhG-CSF was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 50 μg m(−2) on days 5–18 except on the days of irinotecan treatment. In total, 49 patients were assessable for toxicity and response and 50 for survival. In all, 33, patients (67.3%; 95% confidence interval 57.4–77.2%) achieved an objective response. The median response duration was 192 days and the median time to progression for 49 patients was 170 days. The median survival time was 540 days with 1- and 2-year survival rates of 63.5 and 30.7%, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia developed in 63.3 and 38.8% of the patients, respectively. In conclusion, the combination of cisplatin, ifosfamide, and irinotecan with rhG-CSF support was highly effective for the treatment of stage IIIB or IV NSCLC with acceptable toxicities.