Angiosarcomas and taxanes

Angiosarcomas (AS) are a heterogeneous group of rare and aggressive malignancies. The best treatment of localized AS includes wide resection following by adjuvant radiation therapy as possible. The current standard treatment of metastatic AS remains a doxorubicin-based regimen. This treatment provides a median progression-free survival and a median overall survival of about 4 and 8 months, respectively. Numerous case reports and retrospective studies have suggested that taxanes (paclitaxel or docetaxel) may provide some objective responses. The French Sarcoma Group has conducted a phase II clinical trial, which states the benefit of weekly paclitaxel in patients with unresectable or metastatic AS. After 2 cycles, the non-progression rate was 78% and complete histological responses were observed in 3 out of 30 cases. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm clinic impact of weekly paclitaxel on survival and to assess the role of taxanes in the multidisciplinary treatment of AS.