A three-drug regimen (gemcitabine, ifosfamide and cisplatin) for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

We have carried out a pilot study on 25 non-small cell lung cancer patients, administering the combination of gemcitabine at the dose of 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, ifosfamide 1500 mg/m2 on days 1 and 2 (plus mesna as uroprotector) and cisplatin 40 mg/m2 on days 1 and 2, every 21 days. Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor was employed in all cases from day 10 to day 18 at the dose of 300 microg daily. An objective response was observed in 11 cases (44%). The regimen was active, but toxicity was remarkable with some cases of severe myelosuppression and mucositis.