Combined etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin in the treatment of patients with advanced thymoma and thymic carcinoma. A French experience

IntroductionThe value of a nonanthracyclin regimen in thymic carcinoma and malignant thymoma is not well defined. These regimens may be useful in some patients, particularly with cardiac diseases. The objective of this study is to evaluate the response rate, progression free survival, overall survival and toxicity of combined etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin in patients with advanced thymoma and thymic carcinoma.MethodsFrom October 1995 to April 2001, 18 patients with advanced thymoma or thymic carcinoma were entered on trial, and receive etoposide (100 mg/m2 on days 1–3), ifosfamide (1500 mg/m2 on days 1–3), s and cisplatin (30 mg/m2 on days 1–3). Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks for a total of six cycles.ResultsAmong 16 evaluable patients, there were no complete responses and four partial responses (complete and partial responses rate, 25%; confidence interval [CI] 95, 7–48%). The median follow-up was 32.6 months (range