Phase II study of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin as second-line treatment in relapsed small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: The aim of the present phase II study was to evaluate the efficacy of the paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (PIC) combination in relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients were those with SCLC who had progressed or relapsed after therapy with carboplatin and etoposide (with or without chest radiotherapy). The PIC regimen consisted of paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) on day 1, ifosfamide 5 g/m(2) divided over days 1 and 2, and cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) divided over days 1 and 2; PIC was given every 21 days with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support.

Results: Thirty-three patients (30 men and three women) were entered onto the study (median age, 62 years [range, 55 to 70 years]; median performance status, 1 [range, 0 to 2]). Metastatic sites at study entry included the lymph nodes (n = 13 patients), bone (n = 9), liver (n = 5), brain (n = 6), lung nodules (n = 8), adrenal glands (n = 9), and other (n = 2) Responses included eight complete remissions and 16 partial remissions (overall response rate, 73% [24 of 33 patients]). Five patients had stable disease and two had progressive disease. Median time to progression and overall survival were 21 and 28 weeks, respectively. The 1-year survival rate was 12%, with two patients alive without evidence of disease at 76 and 104 weeks since PIC initiation. Grade 3 and 4 toxicities included neutropenia in 30 patients (24 [73%] developed grade 4 neutropenia [ < 5 days]) and febrile neutropenia in six patients (18%); grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia was seen in nine patients (27%). No grade 3 neuropathy was observed; grade 1 or 2 CNS toxicity was seen in five patients, there was no renal toxicity, grade 2 myalgias were seen in nine patients, grade 2 diarrhea was seen in one patient, and grade 3 nausea or vomiting was seen in seven patients. There were no treatment-related deaths.

Conclusion: In the present phase II study, the PIC combination seemed highly active and tolerable in patients with relapsed SCLC when it was administered as second-line treatment. Given the present experience, an evaluation of the PIC regimen as front-line treatment of SCLC is planned.