2002 CTOS Annual Meeting Posters — Medical Onology

GEMCITABINE AND DOCETAXEL IN SARCOMA
[Abstract ID: 80]

Category: Medical Oncology

Authors: Kirsten M. Leu¹, Mark Zalupski¹, Vernon Sondak¹, Krisinda Snyder¹, Laurence H. Baker¹

Author Institutions: ¹University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, MI, United States

Presenter: Kirsten M. Leu
kmleu@umich.edu

Correspondent: Kirsten M. Leu
kmleu@umich.edu
Ann Arbor MI United States 48109-0948
Ph: 734/936-3983
Fax: 734/93607376

Objectives: A recent clinical trial of the combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel reported favorable results in patients with unresectable, predominantly uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS). The objective of this report is to describe additional experience with this combination in a variety of histologic subtypes of sarcoma.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of 24 consecutively treated patients was performed.

Results: Twenty four patients with a median age of 52.5 years (range 22-70) were treated with gemcitabine 675 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and docetaxel 100 mg/m2 on day 8 of a 21-day cycle. Nineteen patients had previously received adriamycin, ifosfamide, or both. Eighteen patients had metastatic disease, 4 had locally recurrent disease, and 2 patients presenting with their original diagnosis were unable to receive adriamycin and/or ifosfamide for medical reasons. Patients received a median of 6 cycles of chemotherapy (range, 2-8 cycles); 5 continue on treatment at the time of this report. Responses occurred in 6/10 LMS from various primary sites, 2/2 angiosarcomas, 1/2 osteosarcomas, 1/2 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, 0/2 synovial sarcomas, 1/2 malignant fibrous histiocytomas, 1/1 Ewing’s sarcoma, 1/1 high grade sarcoma, not otherwise specified, 0/1 chondrosarcoma, and 0/1 liposarcoma. We observed 5 complete responses and 8 partial responses for an overall response rate of 54%. We are currently confirming these responses using the RECIST criteria.

Conclusions: The combination of gemcitabine with docetaxel is a potentially useful therapy for a variety of sarcomas. We look forward to participating in a multicenter clinical trial of this promising combination.