title: Confirmed Activity and Tolerability of Weekly Paclitaxel in the Treatment of Advanced Angiosarcoma.
abstract: Background. In several prospective and retrospective studies, weekly paclitaxel showed promising activity in patients with angiosarcoma. Patients and Methods. Our study was originally designed as a prospective, phase II multicenter trial for patients younger than 75, with ECOG performance status 0-2, affected by locally advanced or metastatic angiosarcoma. Patients received paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) intravenously, at days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks, until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint was objective response. Results. Eight patients were enrolled but, due to very slow accrual, the trial was prematurely stopped and further 10 patients were retrospectively included in the analysis. Out of 17 evaluable patients, 6 patients obtained an objective response (5 partial, 1 complete), with an objective response rate of 35% (95% confidence interval 17%-59%). Of note, five responses were obtained in pretreated patients. In the paper, details of overall survival, progression-free survival, and tolerability are reported. Conclusions. In this small series of patients with locally advanced or metastatic angiosarcoma, weekly paclitaxel was confirmed to be well tolerated and active even in pretreated patients.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Apice
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pizzolorusso
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Maio
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Strada Provinciale, km 3.95, Candiolo, 10060 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grignani
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, La Maddalena Hospital, Via San Lorenzo Colli 312/d, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gebbia
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology, CRO, National Cancer Institute, Via Franco Gallini 2, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buonadonna
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Annarosaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Chiara
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fazioli
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Palma
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Strada Provinciale, km 3.95, Candiolo, 10060 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galizia
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, La Maddalena Hospital, Via San Lorenzo Colli 312/d, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arcara
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mozzillo
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perrone