Trabectedin in myxoid liposarcomas (MLS): a long-term analysis of a single-institution series.
BACKGROUND
Trabectedin has been approved in Europe as second-line therapy for advanced soft tissue sarcomas. A previous analysis showed that myxoid liposarcomas (MLS) are particularly sensitive to the drug. We report on the long-term efficacy of trabectedin in a subgroup of that series.


METHODS
Since September 2002, 32 advanced pretreated MLS patients received trabectedin at our center. Data were reviewed focusing on their long-term outcome.


RESULTS
Trabectedin was given as a 24-h continuous infusion every 21 days. A total of 376 and a median of 12 courses per patient (range 2-26; interquartiles range (IQR) 8-15) were delivered. Response rate per RECIST was 50% [95% confidence interval (CI) 32% to 68%], median progression-free survival (PFS) was 17 months (95% CI 13.5-30.1) and median overall survival is still not reached. In 10 patients, therapy was stopped in the absence of any evident disease, mostly after complete surgery of residual lesions. In these 10 patients, at a median follow-up of 25 months, PFS was 28.1 months (95% CI 25.6-36.4) from treatment start.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that the high response rate of MLS to trabectedin translates into prolonged PFS. Surgery of residual metastatic disease is already used quite extensively in metastatic MLS. Trabectedin may give further significance to this kind of surgery.
Grosso
F
F
Adult Sarcoma Medical Treatment Unit, Cancer Medicine Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy. federica.grosso@istitutotumori.mi.it
Sanfilippo
R
R
Virdis
E
E
Piovesan
C
C
Collini
P
P
Dileo
P
P
Morosi
C
C
Tercero
J C
JC
Jimeno
J
J
D'Incalci
M
M
Gronchi
A
A
Pilotti
S
S
Casali
P G
PG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D018208:Liposarcoma, Myxoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013848:Thigh; D000077606:Trabectedin
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D004149:Dioxoles; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D000077606:Trabectedin