ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the response rate and toxicity of combination chemotherapy including 5-fluorouracil (F), leucovorin (L), ifosfamide (I) and cisplatin (P) for the previously untreated patients with unresectable stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The doses of FLIP were 5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m2 CI days 1-5, leucovorin 20 mg/m2 IV days 1-5, ifosfamide 1000 mg/m2 CI days 1-3, cisplatin 100 mg/m2 IV day 1 respectively. Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks until disease progression. Seventy-three previously untreated patients were enrolled. Age ranged from 30 to 73 (median 56 years); 43 were male, 30 female. Fifty-three patients had performance status (ECOG) 0-1 and 19 performance status 2. Twenty-two patients had stage IIIB and 51 stage IV. Follow-up ranged from 7+ to 160weeks (median 57 weeks). RESULTS: The overall response rate was 46.7% for 62 evaluable patients. (CR 1 patient, PR 28 patients) Median response duration was 24 weeks (range 1+ to 36+ weeks). Toxicity > Grade II (WHO) included: granulocytopenia 19.8%, anemia 13.5%, nausea and vomiting 31.5% stomatitis 46.5%, neuropathy 24.6%. CONCLUSION: FLIP chemotherapy was comparable to other combination chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer with moderate toxicities.