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Gemcitabine in advanced angiosarcoma: a retrospective case series analysis from the Italian Rare Cancer Network

Authors :
Paolo G. Casali
Bruno Vincenzi
Elena Palassini
P. De Rosa
S. Turano
A. Nuzzo
A. M. Bochicchio
Silvia Stacchiotti
Carlo Morosi
S. Pilotti
Roberta Sanfilippo
A. P. Dei Tos
M. G. Arena
Source :
Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology. 23(2)
Publication Year :
2011

Abstract

Angiosarcoma is a highly aggressive soft tissue sarcoma. Responses to anthracyclines plus/minus ifosfamide, and taxanes alone or in combination with gemcitabine are well documented. Very few data are available on gemcitabine as a single agent.We retrospectively reviewed all cases of advanced progressive angiosarcoma treated with gemcitabine as a single agent (1000 mg/m(2) i.v. every week for 3 weeks every 4 weeks), at Istituto Nazionale Tumori and within the Italian Rare Cancers Network from January 2008 to November 2010.Twenty-five patients [mean age: 52 years; radiation therapy (RT)-related: 8] received gemcitabine. Best tumor response by RECIST was as follows: complete response = 2, partial response = 14, stable disease = 2, progressive disease = 7 cases, for an overall response rate (PR + CR) of 68%. Six of eight post-RT angiosarcomas responded to treatment. Median overall survival (OS) was 17 months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7 months (range 1-40 months). One patient with a locally advanced thyroid angiosarcoma became resectable after 5 months of gemcitabine, with10% residual viable tumor cells seen on surgical specimen. Overall, gemcitabine was well tolerated.Gemcitabine is active in both RT- and non-RT-related angiosarcoma, with dimensional and possibly long-lasting responses. A formal phase II study on gemcitabine as a single agent is warranted.

Details

ISSN :
15698041
Volume :
23
Issue :
2
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....943a9763779056e8c41a621af9c32851