Angiosarcoma of the breast: long-term survival following adjuvant chemotherapy

The present study represents the first attempt of treating primary angiosarcoma of the breast with adjuvant vinblastine sulfate (Velban) resulting in long-term survival with no evidence of disease in two patients. The rationale for using Velban as adjuvant therapy was based primarily on a prior study where the intratumoral administration of Velban into a large fungating recurrent angiosarcoma lesion resulted in eradication of tumor and also on the recognized responses of Kaposi's sarcoma to intralesional or systemic Velban administration. Patients received Velban at a dose of 4 mg/week for 15 and 12 months postoperatively. Both patients remain disease free at 12 and 10 years, respectively. Our data suggest that adjuvant therapy with Velban appears to alter significantly the clinical course of angiosarcoma of the breast.