Gemcitabine Maintenance Therapy in Patients With Metastasized Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Frontiers in Oncology

Ulrich Sterz¹  Daniel Heudobler¹  Sebastian Buschauer¹  Matthias Grube¹  Wolfgang Herr¹  Dennis Christoph Harrer¹  Tobias Pukrop¹  Martin Vogelhuber¹  Karin Menhart²  Christina Wendl³ 

[1] Department of Medicine III—Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany;Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany;Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany;

关键词: sarcoma;    maintenance therapy;    solid tumor;    chemotherapy;    stroma tumor;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fonc.2021.755439

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMetastasized soft-tissue sarcomas still pose a significant therapeutic challenge given the limited efficacy of currently available multimodal treatment strategies. Recent progress in molecular characterization of sarcoma subtypes has enabled successful personalized therapy approaches in a minority of selected patients with targetable mutations. However, in the majority of patients with refractory soft tissue sarcomas, long-term survival remains poor.MethodsWe report on three adult patients with various soft tissue sarcomas subjected to Gemcitabine maintenance therapy. Tumor entities included leiomyosarcoma of the pancreas (patient 1), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of the right femur (patient 2), and peri-aortic leiomyosarcoma (patient 3). Metastatic sites encompassed liver, lung, and bones. All patients received Gemcitabine maintenance therapy until disease progression following prior salvage chemotherapy with Docetaxel and Gemcitabine. Patients were treated outside of clinical trials. Response assessment was based on radiological imaging.ResultsIn response to salvage chemotherapy with Docetaxel and Gemcitabine, one patient exhibited a partial remission, and two patients showed stable disease. Patient 1 exhibited stable disease for 6 months during Gemcitabine maintenance therapy before suffering rapid progression of hepatic metastases. Patient 2 underwent 21 months of Gemcitabine maintenance therapy, which was discontinued after progressive pulmonary metastases were detected. Patient 3 is still being treated with Gemcitabine maintenance therapy. Remarkably, owing to significant chemotherapy-associated hematotoxicity, the dose of Gemcitabine dose was reduced by two-thirds. Nevertheless, stable disease with constant pulmonary metastases has been maintained in this patient for 14 months.ConclusionsGemcitabine maintenance therapy following prior Docetaxel and Gemcitabine chemotherapy is manageable and reveals potential benefits for patients with aggressive metastasized soft tissue sarcomas. Prospective trials evaluating Gemcitabine maintenance therapy are encouraged.

【 授权许可】

Unknown