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Treatment of extra‐abdominal desmoid tumors with interferon‐alpha with or without tretinoin
Author(s) -
Leithner Andreas,
Schnack Beate,
Katterschafka Thomas,
Wiltschke Christoph,
Amann Gabriele,
Windhager Reinhard,
Kotz Rainer,
Zielinski Christoph C.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9098(200001)73:1<21::aid-jso6>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - medicine , alpha interferon , tretinoin , surgery , regimen , retrospective cohort study , interferon alfa , chemotherapy , gastroenterology , interferon , retinoic acid , virology , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
Background and Objectives Surgery is the main treatment for extra‐abdominal desmoid tumors, but the results of further management remain uncertain. Therefore, a retrospective analysis was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of treatment with interferon‐alpha (IFN‐α) ± tretinoin in this setting. Methods Thirteen patients with extra‐abdominal desmoid tumors and a median age of 32 years (range, 15–73) received IFN‐α. Seven of these patients received a combination of IFN‐α and tretinoin in order to test further enhancement. Results After a mean observation period of 27 ± 15 months (mean ± standard deviation) under treatment with IFN‐α ± tretinoin, local control was seen in 11 of 13 patients (85%). Seven patients had no evidence of disease at a mean disease‐free interval of 22 ± 18 months; in two patients progressive disease occurred after only 7 and 9 months, respectively, of observation. In another four patients, progression of the desmoid tumor was stabilized. Conclusions The data of this retrospective, nonrandomized study on therapy with IFN‐α ± tretinoin suggest that such treatment may be effective in prolonging the disease‐free interval of patients after intralesional or marginal surgery. Because of the encouraging response rate, this regimen appears to be another nonsurgical treatment alternative. J. Surg. Oncol. 2000;73:21–25. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.