Treatment of extra-abdominal desmoid tumors with interferon-alpha with or without tretinoin.
OBJECTIVE
Surgery is the main treatment for extra-abdominal desmoid tumors, but the results of further management remain uncertain. Therefore, a retrospective analysis was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) +/- tretinoin in this setting.


METHODS
Thirteen patients with extra-abdominal desmoid tumors and a median age of 32 years (range, 15-73) received IFN-alpha. Seven of these patients received a combination of IFN-alpha and tretinoin in order to test further enhancement.


RESULTS
After a mean observation period of 27 +/- 15 months (mean +/- standard deviation) under treatment with IFN-alpha +/- tretinoin, local control was seen in 11 of 13 patients (85%). Seven patients had no evidence of disease at a mean disease-free interval of 22 +/- 18 months; in two patients progressive disease occurred after only 7 and 9 months, respectively, of observation. In another four patients, progression of the desmoid tumor was stabilized.


CONCLUSIONS
The data of this retrospective, nonrandomized study on therapy with IFN-alpha +/- tretinoin suggest that such treatment may be effective in prolonging the disease-free interval of patients after intralesional or marginal surgery. Because of the encouraging response rate, this regimen appears to be another nonsurgical treatment alternative.
Leithner
A
A
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
Schnack
B
B
Katterschafka
T
T
Wiltschke
C
C
Amann
G
G
Windhager
R
R
Kotz
R
R
Zielinski
C C
CC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D018222:Desmoid Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D014212:Tretinoin