title: Phase II trial of paclitaxel in leiomyosarcoma of the uterus: a gynecologic oncology group study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the activity of paclitaxel in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced or recurrent uterine leiomyosarcoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received 175 mg/m(2) of paclitaxel iv over 3 h. Courses were repeated every 3 weeks until disease progression or adverse side effects supervened.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four women were entered, but 1 patient was ineligible because of wrong cell type. Median age was 55 years (range: 35-84 years). GOG performance status was 2 in 2 instances, 1 in 9 cases, and 0 in 22 others. Eight patients (23.4%) had received radiotherapy. A median of 2.5 courses was given (range: 1-18). Eleven patients (33.3%) experienced grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, 1 (2.9%) had grade 4 thrombocytopenia, and 1 had grade 3 anemia. There were no cases of grade 3 or 4 gastrointestinal or dermatologic toxicity. One patient each developed deep venous thrombosis and a grade 3 allergic reaction. Eight patients (24.2%) had stable disease for at least 2 courses of therapy. Three complete responses were reported (9.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the dose and schedule tested, paclitaxel has limited activity in patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma. Modest toxicity suggests that a higher dose of paclitaxel might be evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Indiana University Medical School, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Blessing
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel