Treatment of malignant pheochromocytoma with combination chemotherapy

Three patients with rapidly progressive, disseminated malignant pheochromocytoma were treated with a combination chemotherapeutic regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dacarbazine in repeated 21- to 28-day cycles. All three patients had a marked decrease in blood pressure and an improvement in performance status within the first few cycles of treatment. At a follow-up of 6 to 13 months all patients continue to receive chemotherapy with further regression of tumor in two and stable disease in one. Their blood pressure is normal with minimal or no antiadrenergic therapy. Therapy has been well tolerated; moderate reversible granulocytopenia, neurotoxicity, and one episode of pneumonitis have been the major toxicities encountered. Thus, combination chemotherapy appears to be effective for symptomatic malignant pheochromocytoma.