High-dose doxorubicin infusion therapy for disseminated mixed mesodermal sarcoma of the uterus

Fifteen patients with metastatic mixed mesodermal sarcoma of the uterus received high dose doxorubicin infusion therapy. For 12 patients, the initial dose was 90 mg/m2; the other three patients' starting doses were 50, 75, and 75 mg/m2 respectively. Twelve patients received doxorubicin as firstline chemotherapy, with a cumulative dose of 90 mg/m2 to 675 mg/m2 (median = 495 mg/m2). Three patients treated secondarily received cumulative doses of 90, 205, and 425 mg/m2. Of nine patients who had measurable disease, none had an objective response. The median survival of the 15 patients was 11.3 months, with a range of 0.5 to 51+ months. Two patients died of neutropenia related sepsis. Cardiotoxicity occurred in two patients. Eleven patients are dead of disease, and two patients are alive without evidence of disease at 49, and 51 months. Extending the doxorubicin dosage to its tolerable limits did not appear to result in improved efficacy in patients with metastatic mixed mesodermal uterine sarcomas. Future clinical trials should concentrate on doxorubicin-containing combination regimens and Phase II single agent studies.