Chemotherapeutic management of recurrent/metastatic uterine carcinosarcomas (malignant mixed mullerian tumors): time for a re-appraisal?
OBJECTIVE
Optimal chemotherapeutic management of recurrent/metastatic uterine carcinosarcomas remains undefined. Despite this fact, the selection of a cytotoxic anti-neoplastic drug regimen for an individual patient with this rare malignancy may substantially impact both short-term symptomatic improvement and overall quality-of-life, which includes the toxicity of therapy.


METHODS
Two women with metastatic uterine carcinosarcomas recently treated at the Cleveland Clinic received therapy (carboplatin/paclitaxel) directly aimed at the "adenocarcinoma" component of their mixed endometrial cancers.


RESULTS
Both patients achieved substantial short-term objective and subjective improvement in cancer-related signs and symptoms, while experiencing limited treatment-associated toxicities.


CONCLUSIONS
This limited experience, and additional available data, suggest it is rational to initially treat patients with recurrent/metastatic uterine carcinosarcomas with anti-neoplastic drug strategies currently employed in the management of endometrial adenocarcinomas.
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, (Mail Box # 121), 77030, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. mmarkman@mdanderson.org
Maurie
M
Markman
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018200:Mixed Tumor, Mullerian / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018579:Patient Selection; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*
D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel