Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of the combination of full-dose epirubicin (EPI) and high-dose ifosfamide (IFO) with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support and to determine the clinical efficacy in terms of response and impact on survival.
Patients and methods: Forty-six consecutive, previously untreated patients with locally advanced or metastatic high-grade soft tissue sarcomas were treated with IFO 2.5 g/m2/d as a continuous infusion on days 1 to 5 and EPI 45 mg/m2/d as a continuous infusion on days 2 and 3 every 3 weeks. G-CSF 5 microg/kg/d subcutaneously (s.c.) was given on days 6 to 15 or until recovery of leukocytes after all cycles. Response evaluation was performed every two cycles and responding patients were treated with up to six cycles. All patients were evaluated for resectability of residual local or metastatic disease and underwent surgery if possible.
Results: All patients experienced grade 3 or 4 myelosuppression. Other toxicities were mild. The overall response rate was 52%, with a complete remission (CR) rate of 22% after chemotherapy alone. Eight additional patients were rendered free of tumor (no evidence of disease [NED]) by surgical procedures. The median overall survival of all patients is 24 months. The CR/NED patients (39%) have a significantly superior survival time compared with all other patients. Thirteen of these 18 patients (72%) are alive, nine free of tumor, with a median follow-up time of 33 months.
Conclusion: This dose-intensive combination chemotherapy is toxic but feasible and produced a high number of partial remissions (PRs) and especially CRs, which resulted in prolonged survival.