Treatment of patients aged over 50 years with non-osseous Ewing's sarcoma family tumors: five cases and review of literature.
BACKGROUND
Most clinical trials on Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors include pediatric and adolescent populations, whereas clinical data on older patients are limited.


METHODS
We report on 5 patients older than 50 years with a tumor of the Ewing's sarcoma family treated recently in our department.


RESULTS
Myelosuppression and infectious complications were the main toxicity encountered. Major dose reductions and/or treatment delays were required in all 5 patients. One patient died of septic shock. Complete remission was achieved in the remaining 4 patients with the addition of different treatment modalities. One patient had lung metastasis 3 years after starting chemotherapy, and 3 patients have remained without evidence of recurrent disease for 1-6 years from the onset of chemotherapy


CONCLUSIONS
There is no definite answer as to whether older age is a poor prognostic factor in patients with a tumor of the Ewing's sarcoma family. In our experience, patients over 50 poorly tolerated the standard chemotherapy protocol used in the pediatric population.
Bar-Sela
Gil
G
Division of Oncology, Rambam-Health Care Campus, and Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. g_barsela@rambam.health.gov.il
Peer
Avivit
A
Rothschild
Shelly
S
Haim
Nissim
N
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012512:Sarcoma, Ewing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*