AimThis randomised phase III trial evaluated first-line trabectedin versus doxorubicin-based chemotherapy (DXCT) in patients with advanced/metastatic translocation-related sarcomas (TRS). MethodsPatients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive trabectedin 1.5mg/m2 24-h intravenous (i.v.) infusion every 3weeks (q3wk) (Arm A), or doxorubicin 75mg/m2 i.v. q3wk, or doxorubicin 60mg/m2 i.v. plus ifosfamide (range, 6–9g/m2) i.v. q3wk (Arm B). Progression-free survival (PFS) by independent review was the primary efficacy end-point. ResultsOne hundred and twenty-one patients were randomised; 88 of them had TRS confirmed by central pathology review (efficacy population). Twenty-nine PFS events were assessed by independent review (16 with trabectedin; 13 with DXCT). PFS showed non-significant difference between arms (stratified log rank test, p=0.9573; hazard ratio=0.86, p=0.6992). At the time of this analysis, 63.9% and 58.3% of patients were alive in trabectedin and DXCT arms, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in survival curves. Response rate according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) v.1.0 was significantly higher in DXCT arm (27.0% versus 5.9%), but response according to Choi criteria showed fewer differences between treatment arms (45.9% versus 37.3%). Safety profile was as expected for both arms, with higher incidence of severe neutropenia, alopecia and mucositis in the DXCT arm. ConclusionNeither trabectedin nor doxorubicin-based chemotherapy showed significant superiority in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced translocation-related sarcoma.