Fulvestrant: a further treatment option for patients with metastatic uterine cancer?
BACKGROUND
Metastatic uterine cancer is notoriously difficult to treat, presenting a poor prognosis and a median survival time of less than 1 year. We present the successful use of the antiestrogen fulvestrant in an endocrine therapy-naive patient with advanced uterine cancer.


METHODS
A 64-year-old female presented with advanced uterine cancer 7.0 x 6.0 x 5.5 cm in size, with infiltration of the bladder. Previous chemotherapy and radiotherapy had been unsuccessful in preventing disease progression, and the patient developed hepatic metastases. As the tumor expressed a high level of estrogen receptor, treatment with fulvestrant 250 mg/month was initiated.


RESULTS
25 months after commencing fulvestrant treatment, the tumor had decreased in size to 4.8 x 3.5 x 3.2 cm, and the hepatic metastases were no longer detectable. Throughout treatment, the patient maintained a Karnofsky performance index of 90%.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that fulvestrant may be an active and well-tolerated treatment option for patients with estrogen receptor- positive advanced uterine cancer.
Lux
Michael P
MP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany. michael.lux@gyn.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Wenkel
Evelyn M
EM
Beckmann
Kai
K
Beckmann
Matthias W
MW
Thiel
Falk
F
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D004958:Estradiol