A pilot phase II study of a ifosfamide and vindesine combination of non-small cell lung cancer was conducted in the elderly patients and patients with reduced renal function. The combination consisted of ifosfamide, 2.3 g/m2, on day 1 through 3, and vindesine, 3 mg/m2, on day 1 and 8. Cycles were repeated at 4-week intervals. The dose of ifosfamide and vindesine was reduced in the elderly. Of 24 evaluable patients, one had a complete response and 8 had partial response, with an overall response rate of 37.5%. The projected median response duration was 6.8 months and the median survival for all patients was 15.1 months. The toxicity was tolerable with moderate myelosuppression. These results indicate that this combination chemotherapy is safe and effective for non-small cell lung cancer in the elderly patients and patients with reduced renal function and warrants further clinical trials.