Complete remission of a radio-resistant cutaneous angiosarcoma of the scalp by systemic treatment with liposomal doxorubicin.

Abstract

We report an 80-year-old man suffering from an angiosarcoma of the scalp. Because of the wide extent of the lesions, surgery was not performed. Instead, the patient was treated with electron-beam radiation. Later, the patient failed to benefit from radiotherapy demonstrated by a local relapse and new malignant lesions. Additionally, a cervical lymph node metastasis appeared for the first time. Subsequently, we successfully administered liposomal doxorubicin (Caelyx(R)). Shortly after administration of two cycles the scalp angiosarcoma showed a clear regression. Following six cycles, the patient clinically showed a complete remission of all skin lesions and the cervical lymph node; metastasis was confirmed by histology and fine needle aspiration, respectively. Liposomal and pegylated doxorubicin, a cytostatic drug belonging to the anthracyclines, has already shown to be effective and mostly well tolerated in the therapy of acquired immune deficiency syndrome-related Kaposi's sarcoma and very recently in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, too. Caelyx(R) appears to be a promising alternative to conventional treatment of cutaneous angiosarcoma.

• Authors: S Eiling, S Lischner, J-O Busch, D Rothaupt, E Christophers, A Hauschild
• Journal: The British journal of dermatology (Br J Dermatol) Vol. 147 Issue 1 Pg. 150-3 (Jul 2002) ISSN: 0007-0963 [Print] England
• PMID: 12100199 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Liposomes
• Doxorubicin

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Doxorubicin (administration & dosage)
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (drug therapy, radiotherapy)
• Hemangiosarcoma (drug therapy, radiotherapy)
• Humans
• Liposomes
• Radiation Tolerance
• Scalp
• Skin Neoplasms (drug therapy, radiotherapy)