Ifosfamide chemotherapy ineffective for advanced pancreatic carcinoma

: Ifosfamide chemotherapy was studied in 20 patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma. It was administered at a dose of 1.2-1.5 g/body/day for 5 consecutive days every 3-4 weeks, and the patients treated over 2 courses were registered in our trial. Eleven patients had not received prior chemotherapy. Results achieved were as follows: PR in one patient, NC in 9 patients, and PD in 10 patients. The response rate was 5% and the median survival time was 17 weeks. Toxic effects included anorexia (80%), nausea and vomiting (65%), alopecia (20%), mental disturbance (20%), granulocytopenia (20%), thrombocytopenia (5%), and no renalurological disturbance. We concluded that ifosfamide was not effective for chemotherapy of advanced pancreatic carcinoma.