title: Thalidomide for the treatment of histiocytic sarcoma after hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
abstract: Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare neoplasm of uncertain etiology. Most recently, the diagnostic criteria for this entity have been revised with inclusion of diagnostic modalities such as immunohistochemical and cytogentic techniques. HS tends to have an aggressive clinical course and presents with systemic symptoms of fever, weight loss, adenopathy, hepatosplenomegly, rash, and pancytopenia. Thalidomide is a promising agent that may exert a therapeutic benefit in HS. We report a case of a 48-year-old female with HS who presented with fever, weight loss, fatigue, generalized anasarca, and pancytopenia. She underwent multi-agent chemotherapy followed by matched unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Her disease recurred and thalidomide therapy was started, with her overall disease burden significantly reduced as measured radiographically.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Muneer H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Abidi
authors.forename: Isaacson
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tove
authors.forename: Rami B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maria
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peres
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D003561:Cytarabine; D013792:Thalidomide; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin; D011241:Prednisone