Anthracycline-based chemotherapy in extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma: a retrospective study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC) is a rare subgroup within soft tissue sarcomas. Its sensitivity to chemotherapy is reported to be low.

METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed a series of 11 EMC patients treated as from 2001 within the Italian Rare Cancer Network (RCN) with anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Pathologic diagnosis was centrally reviewed in all cases and confirmed by the presence of the specific chromosomal rearrangements, involving the NR4A3 gene locus on chromosome 9.

RESULTS:

Eleven patients treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy were included (M/F: 9/2 - mean age: 52 years - site of primary: lower limb/other = 9/2 - metastatic = 11 - front line/ further line = 10/1 - anthracycline as single agent/ combined with ifosfamide = 1/10). Ten patients are evaluable for response. Overall, best response according to RECIST was: partial response (PR) = 4 (40 %), stable disease (SD) = 3, progressive disease (PD) = 3 cases. Median PFS was 8 (range 2-10) months.

CONCLUSIONS:

By contrast to what reported so far, anthracycline-based chemotherapy is active in a distinct proportion of EMC patients.

• Authors: Silvia Stacchiotti, Gian Paolo Dagrada, Roberta Sanfilippo, Tiziana Negri, Isabella Vittimberga, Stefano Ferrari, Federica Grosso, Gaetano Apice, Marco Tricomi, Chiara Colombo, Alessandro Gronchi, Angelo P Dei Tos, Silvana Pilotti, Paolo G Casali
• Journal: Clinical sarcoma research (Clin Sarcoma Res) Vol. 3 Issue 1 Pg. 16 (Dec 18 2013) ISSN: 2045-3329 [Print] England
• PMID: 24345066 (Publication Type: Journal Article)