High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation for relapsed Ewing's sarcoma

Abstract

10545 Background: Nearly 30–40% of patients with newly diagnosed, non-metastatic Ewing's Sarcoma (EWS) relapse. Post-relapse survival (PRS) in EWS is very poor, with less than 15–20% alive 5-years after recurrence. The role of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is under investigation in metastatic and high risk localized EWS patients. In order to improve PRS, we employed HDCT with ASCT in EWS patients at 1st relapse. Methods: All non-metastatic EWS patients treated in Italian Sarcoma Group centers who relapsed between 1999 and June 2008 were offered HDCT (busulfan 4 mg/kg × 4 days orally and melphalan 140 mg/m2) with ASCT whenever possible (no previous HDCT; stable or responding disease after standard dose chemotherapy; adequate peripheral blood stem cells harvest). Results: 72 EWS patients experienced disease recurrence. Fifty (62%) were male. Twenty-eight (39%) of patients had previously received HDCT. Median relapse free interval (RFI) was 16 months (2.8–64). Pattern of relapse was: lung metastases in 20 (28%) patients, bone metastases in 12 (16%), local recurrence in 11 (15%) and multiple sites in 29 (40%). Treatment at 1st relapse was: standard dose chemotherapy in 31 (43%) patients; HDCT followed by ASCT in 24 (33%); palliative treatment in 12 (17%) and surgery only in 5 (7%). Three patients died of treatment-related toxicity. With a median follow-up of 24 months (1–64), the 3-year post-relapse survival (PRS) was 21% (95%CI 7–35). 3-year PRS was better for patients with a lung only relapse [48%, (95%CI 21–74)] and a RFI > 2 years [51%, (95%CI 27–76)]. 3-year PRS was 33% (95%CI 13–54) for patients treated with HDCT and 22% (95%CI 6–39) for those receiving standard dose chemotherapy. A significant (P 0.02) advantage was observed in the subgroup of patients with a shorter RFI treated with HDCT [3-year PRS 29% (95%CI 5–52)] compared to those treated with standard dose chemotherapy [3-years PRS 13%, (95%CI 2–29)]. Conclusions: Pattern of recurrence and RFI are the main factors influencing PRS in EWS. The use of HDCT with ASCT in recurrent EWS is investigational. Patients with shorter RFI could more likely benefit from HDCT. No significant financial relationships to disclose.