Ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide (ICE) combined with 41.8 °C whole body hyperthermia in patients with refractory sarcoma

Abstract Two earlier studies resulted in the design of a phase II trial of 41.8 °C (x 60 min) extracorporeal whole body hyperthermia (WBH) with ICE, i.e. ifosfamide (5 g/m 2 ), carboplatin (300 mg/m 2 ) and etoposide given with WBH, as well as, day 2 and 3 post-WBH (100 mg/m 2 ) for adult patients with refractory sarcoma. 12 patients entered this trial; all were evaluable. 8 patients had a history of prior chemotherapy associated with disease progression. Following WBH/ICE, 7 partial remissions were observed (58%); 3 patients experienced disease stabilisation; the aforementioned 10 patients each received four cycles of therapy. 2 patients exhibited progressive disease. Episodes of WHO graded (grade 3; grade 4) toxicity observed included: anaemia (2;2); leucopenia (5;7); thrombocytopenia (1;6); renal (0;1). Other toxicities (grade 1 and 2) included: anasarca, diarrhoea, ventricular arrhythmias, pressure sores and perioral herpes simplex.