title: Gemcitabine and docetaxel for epithelioid sarcoma: results from a retrospective, multi-institutional analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epithelioid sarcoma (ES) presents unique clinical features in comparison to other sarcoma subtypes. Data regarding the benefits of chemotherapy are very limited. Combination regimens using gemcitabine and docetaxel (Gem/Doce) have proven to be effective, especially in uterine and nonuterine leiomyosarcoma. Yet, there is no available data on the efficacy of Gem/Doce in ES.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of the three participating institutions was performed. Twenty-eight patients with an ES diagnosis presented at one of the participating institutions between 1989 and 2012. Of this group, 17 patients received chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients' median overall survival (OS) after the beginning of palliative chemotherapy was 21 months, and the 1-year OS was 87%. Twelve patients received Gem/Doce with a clinical benefit rate of 83%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8 months for all patients receiving Gem/Doce. The best response was complete remission in 1 patient and partial remission in 6 patients. All 6 patients receiving Gem/Doce as a first-line treatment showed measurable responses with a median PFS of 9 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this retrospective study, Gem/Doce was an effective chemotherapeutic regimen for ES. Prospective studies are needed to better assess the effects of this combination drug therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Sarcoma Center Berlin-Brandenburg, HELIOS Klinikum Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pink
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerdes
authors.forename: Dimosthenis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andreou
authors.forename: Per-Ulf
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Tunn
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Busemann
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ehninger
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reichardt
authors.forename: Markus K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Schuler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine