Docetaxel and Gemcitabine in the Treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcoma – A Single-Center Experience

Abstract

Introduction: Advanced stage/metastatic soft tissue sarcoma(STS) has a poor prognosis especially after failureof the established first-line treatment. In patients with relapsedleiomyosarcoma, however, the combination ofgemcitabine (G) and docetaxel (D) recently has emergedas a valuable salvage therapy. Patients and Methods: Aretrospective analysis of G (900 mg/m2, days 1+8) and D(100 mg/m2, day 8) was performed in 34 patients withSTS, and response rate (RR), overall survival (OS), timeto progression (TTP), and toxicities were evaluated. Results:Analysis of these 34 patients revealed a RR of 15%with no complete remission (CR) and 5 partial remissions(PR). Of note, 4/5 PR were achieved in patients withleiomyosarcoma. In 13 patients (38%) disease stabilization(SD) could be achieved resulting in a clinical benefitrate (CBR), defined as CR+PR+SD, of 53%. Median OSwas 12.5 and TTP was 2.4 months for the whole groupand 2.8 months for patients with leiomyosarcoma. A progression-free rate at 3 months of 38% and 45%, respectively,was observed in these 2 groups. Major side effectswere 47% hematological and 26% grade 3/4 nonhematologicaltoxicity. Conclusion: With regard to the observedCBR further use of GD seems to be warranted even inpretreated patients with STS.