Noncytotoxic drug therapy in children with unresectable desmoid tumors.
BACKGROUND
Antiestrogens and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs have been shown to be effective in adult patients with unresectable or recurrent desmoid tumors. It appears that the growth of these tumors is influenced by estrogen, and that antiestrogen treatment may inhibit further proliferation of tumor cells. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs are thought to be effective through their interference with prostaglandin metabolism.


METHODS
Two children with unresectable desmoid tumors (aggressive fibromatosis) were treated with tamoxifen (1 mg/kg orally, twice daily) and diclofenac (2 mg/kg rectally, twice daily).


RESULTS
At last follow-up, tumor regression and growth arrest were maintained for more than 51 months in 1 child with rapidly growing recurrent fibromatosis of the thoracic wall. Another child with an inoperable desmoid tumor of the submandibular region had stable disease since the initiation of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report describing this treatment approach in childhood fibromatosis. Combined therapy with endocrine therapy and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs may be a nonaggressive alternative to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of children with inoperable desmoid tumors.
Lackner
H
H
Department of Pediatrics, University of Graz, Austria.
Urban
C
C
Kerbl
R
R
Schwinger
W
W
Beham
A
A
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D018222:Desmoid Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D012074:Remission Induction; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen; D004008:Diclofenac