Premium
Docetaxel and gemcitabine combination in 133 advanced soft‐tissue sarcomas: A retrospective analysis
Author(s) -
Bay JacquesOlivier,
RayCoquard Isabelle,
Fayette Jérôme,
Leyvraz Serge,
Cherix Stephane,
PipernoNeumann Sophie,
Chevreau Christine,
Isambert Nicolas,
Brain Etienne,
Emile Georges,
Le Cesne Axel,
Cioffi Angela,
Kwiatkowski Fabrice,
Coindre JeanMichel,
Bui Nguyon Binh,
Peyrade Frédéric,
Blay JeanYves
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.21867
Subject(s) - docetaxel , gemcitabine , medicine , leiomyosarcoma , soft tissue sarcoma , ifosfamide , deoxycytidine , sarcoma , soft tissue , oncology , retrospective cohort study , chemotherapy , urology , gastroenterology , surgery , pathology , cisplatin
Advanced soft‐tissue sarcomas are usually resistant to cytotoxic agents such as doxorubicin and ifosfamide. Antitumor activity has been observed for gemcitabine and docetaxel combination. We conducted a retrospective study on 133 patients (58 males/75 females) with unresectable or metastatic soft‐tissue sarcoma. The median age at diagnosis was 51.7 (18–82), with 76 patients with leiomoyosarcoma and 57 patients with other histological subtypes. The initial localizations were limb (44), uterine (32), retroperitoneal (23) and organs or bone (34). Patients received 900 mg/m 2 of gemcitabine (days 1 and 8) over 90 min plus 100 mg/m 2 of docetaxel (day 8), intravenously every 21 days. Gemcitabine/docetaxel combination was well tolerated with an overall response of 18.4% and with no clear statistical difference between leiomyosarcomas and other histological subtypes (24.2% versus 10.4% ( p = 0.06)). No difference was found between uterine soft‐tissue sarcomas versus others. The median overall survival was 12.1 months (1–28). Better overall survival was correlated with leiomyosarcoma ( p = 0.01) and with the quality of the response, even for patients with stable disease ( p < 10 −4 ). No statistical difference was found for the initial localization. Response to treatment and overall survival were better for patients in World Health Organization (WHO) performance status classification (PS) 0 at baseline versus patients in WHO PS‐1, 2 or 3 ( p = 0.023 and p < 10 −4 , respectively). Gemcitabine/docetaxel combination was tolerable and demonstrated better response and survival for leiomyosarcoma, especially for patients in WHO PS‐0 at baseline. For the other histological subtypes, the response was not encouraging, but the survival for patients in response or stable suggests further investigation. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.