Related Experiment Videos
Endometrial stromal sarcoma: objective response to letrozole.
F C Maluf1, P Sabbatini, L Schwartz
1The Developmental Chemotherapy Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Gynecologic Oncology
|September 5, 2001
Summary
Letrozole shows promise for treating low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma, a hormone-sensitive cancer. This hormonal therapy achieved a partial response in a patient with recurrent disease.
Area of Science:
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Endocrinology
- Medical Oncology
Background:
- Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS) is an indolent gynecologic malignancy.
- LGESS typically expresses estrogen and progesterone receptors.
- Hormonal therapies, such as megestrol acetate, have shown objective responses.
Observation:
- A 51-year-old woman with LGESS underwent hysterectomy and oophorectomy.
- Recurrent disease was treated with radiation and surgery, with poor tolerance to megestrol acetate.
- Subsequent treatment with tamoxifen yielded no response, and megestrol acetate led to disease progression.
Findings:
- Letrozole, a third-generation aromatase inhibitor, was administered at 2.5 mg daily.
- The patient achieved a partial response lasting 9 months.
- This suggests potential efficacy of letrozole in managing recurrent or advanced LGESS.
Implications:
- Letrozole may be an effective treatment option for patients with estrogen receptor-positive LGESS.
- Further investigation into aromatase inhibitors for LGESS is warranted.
- This case highlights the potential role of endocrine therapy in managing this rare sarcoma.