Fulvestrant: a further treatment option for patients with metastatic uterine cancer?

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Metastatic uterine cancer is notoriously difficult to treat, presenting a poor prognosis and a median survival time of less than 1 year. We present the successful use of the antiestrogen fulvestrant in an endocrine therapy-naive patient with advanced uterine cancer.

CASE REPORT:

A 64-year-old female presented with advanced uterine cancer 7.0 x 6.0 x 5.5 cm in size, with infiltration of the bladder. Previous chemotherapy and radiotherapy had been unsuccessful in preventing disease progression, and the patient developed hepatic metastases. As the tumor expressed a high level of estrogen receptor, treatment with fulvestrant 250 mg/month was initiated.

RESULTS:

25 months after commencing fulvestrant treatment, the tumor had decreased in size to 4.8 x 3.5 x 3.2 cm, and the hepatic metastases were no longer detectable. Throughout treatment, the patient maintained a Karnofsky performance index of 90%.

CONCLUSION:

We suggest that fulvestrant may be an active and well-tolerated treatment option for patients with estrogen receptor- positive advanced uterine cancer.

• Authors: Michael P Lux, Evelyn M Wenkel, Kai Beckmann, Matthias W Beckmann, Falk Thiel
• Journal: Onkologie (Onkologie) Vol. 29 Issue 12 Pg. 577-80 (Dec 2006) ISSN: 0378-584X [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 17202829 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
• Receptors, Estrogen
• Fulvestrant
• Estradiol

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal (therapeutic use)
• Estradiol (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Fulvestrant
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (blood, drug therapy, secondary)
• Middle Aged
• Receptors, Estrogen (blood)
• Treatment Outcome
• Urinary Bladder Neoplasms (blood, drug therapy, secondary)
• Uterine Neoplasms (drug therapy)