Postradiation high-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma of the prostate -- a rare entity of prostatic tumors -- responding to liposomal Doxorubicin.
BACKGROUND
Prostatic postradiation sarcoma (PRS) is a very rare malignant disease with a dismal prognosis. Aggressive surgical resection is the most widely used therapy for PRS. Chemotherapy so far has been unsatisfactory, with doxorubicin being the only drug with established activity. Liposomal doxorubicin has been shown to have comparable activity and a more favorable toxicity profile compared with unpegylated doxorubicin.


METHODS
A 78-year-old man presented with high-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma 13 years after curatively intended pion irradiation of the prostate with 30 Gy. He was treated with liposomal doxorubicin 40 mg/m(2) every 4-6 weeks up to now with a total dose of 800 mg. Partial remission has been achieved after 17 months of treatment with liposomal doxorubicin. Toxicity is minimal with palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia WHO grade 1, resolving completely after extending treatment intervals to 6 weeks.


RESULTS
Liposomal doxorubicin led to a sustained tumor stabilization over 17 months in a patient with prostatic postradiation high-grade sarcoma. Postradiation sarcoma (PRS) usually has a dismal prognosis and only very limited therapeutic possibilities. As in sarcomas of different origin, anthracyclines including liposomal doxorubicin seem to have potential antitumor activity in postradiation sarcoma of the prostate.
Joerger
M
M
Departement of Medical Oncology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Oehlschlegel
C
C
Cerny
T
T
Gillessen
S
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D008297:Male; D009217:Myosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate
D008081:Liposomes; D004317:Doxorubicin