Combination chemotherapy for desmoid tumors

• Published in: Cancer 2003-02, Vol.97 (4), p.1134-1135
• Main Authors: Okuno, Scott H., Edmonson, John H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Biological and medical sciences; Chemotherapy; clinical benefit; cytotoxic chemotherapy; desmoid tumors; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Fibromatosis, Aggressive - drug therapy; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.11189

BACKGROUND Desmoid tumor (aggressive fibromatosis) is an aggressive fibroblastic proliferation of well circumscribed, locally invasive, differentiated fibrous tissue. For patients with desmoid tumors that are not amenable to surgery or radiation therapy, the use of hormonal agents and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been attempted, with some success. The use of chemotherapy also has been reported to have activity. METHODS Seven patients (5 males and 2 females) with a median age of 40 years (range, 17–66 years) who received cytotoxic chemotherapy (combinations of cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin; mitomycin, doxorubicin, and cisplatin; and ifosfamide and etoposide) for desmoid tumor were reviewed retrospectively. Five patients were found to have recurrent tumors. Four patients had familial adenomatous polyposis. Four patients had failed tamoxifen and six had failed NSAIDs prior to receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy. In six patients the desmoid tumor was intraabdominal and one tumor had occurred on the buttock. RESULTS Patients received a median number of six cycles of chemotherapy (range, two to eight cycles). Objective disease regression occurred in 3 patients. There was an apparent clinical benefit in six patients with the duration of benefit ranging from 3 months to 15 years. The chemotherapy was well tolerated and no treatment‐related mortality was reported. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study indicate that the use of combination chemotherapy for desmoid tumors may provide long‐term clinical benefits. Cancer 2003;97:1134–35. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11189 Combination chemotherapy for progressive, unresectable desmoid tumors appears to provide palliative benefits. In the current study, the authors identified seven patients, five of whom had recurrent desmoid tumors. The combination chemotherapy was comprised of combinations of cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin; ifosfamide and etoposide; and mitomycin, doxorubicin, and cisplatin. The duration of chemotherapy was 3–12 months. An objective response was noted in three patients. A clinical benefit was noted in 6 patients, with the duration of benefit ranging from 3 months to 15 years.