Ifosfamide chemotherapy of metastatic renal cell cancer

In view of the divergent reports on the efficacy of ifosfamide in metastatic renal cell cancer, we tested this drug as monotherapy in nine patients on a dosage schedule of intravenous infusion of 40 mg/kg per day on days 1-5, repeated every 4 wk. The drug was administered in 1 liter saline dextrose over 2 hr, with hydration, alkalization of the urine, and mesna. No objective response was registered and subjective response in three patients was of short duration. The number of patients in this series is too small to draw definitive conclusions. However, the results obtained in this study does not prove antitumor activity for ifosfamide in renal cell cancer.