Gemcitabine and docetaxel for epithelioid sarcoma: Results from a retrospective, multi-institutional analysis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Daniel Pink - , Fresenius AG (Author)
  • Stephan Richter - , Department of internal Medicine I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Sebastian Gerdes - , Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry (Author)
  • Dimosthenis Andreou - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Per Ulf Tunn - , Fresenius AG (Author)
  • Christoph Busemann - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • Gerhard Ehninger - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Department of internal Medicine I (Author)
  • Peter Reichardt - , Fresenius AG (Author)
  • Markus K. Schuler - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Department of internal Medicine I (Author)

Abstract

Objective: Epithelioid sarcoma (ES) presents unique clinical features in comparison to other sarcoma subtypes. Data regarding the benefits of chemotherapy are very limited. Combination regimens using gemcitabine and docetaxel (Gem/Doce) have proven to be effective, especially in uterine and nonuterine leiomyosarcoma. Yet, there is no available data on the efficacy of Gem/Doce in ES. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the three participating institutions was performed. Twenty-eight patients with an ES diagnosis presented at one of the participating institutions between 1989 and 2012. Of this group, 17 patients received chemotherapy. Results: Patients' median overall survival (OS) after the beginning of palliative chemotherapy was 21 months, and the 1-year OS was 87%. Twelve patients received Gem/Doce with a clinical benefit rate of 83%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8 months for all patients receiving Gem/Doce. The best response was complete remission in 1 patient and partial remission in 6 patients. All 6 patients receiving Gem/Doce as a first-line treatment showed measurable responses with a median PFS of 9 months. Conclusions: In this retrospective study, Gem/Doce was an effective chemotherapeutic regimen for ES. Prospective studies are needed to better assess the effects of this combination drug therapy.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)95-103
Number of pages9
JournalOncology (Switzerland)
Volume87
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2014
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 25011671

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Chemotherapy, Combination chemotherapy, Docetaxel, Epithelioid sarcoma, Gemcitabine, Palliative chemotherapy, Sarcoma, Soft tissue sarcoma