Low-dose oral etoposide monotherapy in adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to test the disease-controlling effect of low-dose oral etoposide monotherapy in adult-onset multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis. There are no previous reports of low-dose etoposide monotherapy for this condition.


METHODS
A 27-year-old man with a 7-year history of multifocal chronic Langerhans cell histiocytosis presented with severe disabling ulcers in intertriginous areas. He had previously been treated with 2 different regimens of antitumoral chemotherapy; one had to be discontinued due to myelosuppression and the other had proved ineffective. We treated with oral etoposide monotherapy at 50 mg/d (22 mg/m2 per day) for 21 days. The treatment was repeated at 28-day intervals for a total of 6 cycles. A rapid initial response with subtotal diminution of the involved skin area was found. No adverse effects were observed. The clinical picture has remained stable during the 7 months following cessation of therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose oral etoposide treatment is an adequate therapeutic measure for prolonged disease control in adult-type Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
Helmbold
P
P
Department of Dermatology, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. peter.helmbold@medizin.uni-halle.de
Hegemann
B
B
Holzhausen
H J
HJ
Klapperstück
T
T
Marsch
W C
WC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D005047:Etoposide