Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy for disseminated endometrial cancer

Twenty-six cases of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the endometrium treated with doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin) and cyclophosphamide at M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute were retrospectively analyzed. Thirteen patients were treated initially for disseminated disease and 13 for a recurrence. Eight of 26 patients, or 31%, showed a partial response. There were no complete responses. The median duration of remission was 4 months, with a range of 2 to 12 months. Previous exposure to progestins did not significantly affect subsequent response to doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. Toxicity from chemotherapy was moderate. Four patients (15%) developed serious myelosuppression, 2 developed cardiac arrhythmia, and 1 developed a doxorubicin extravasation. No deaths were attributable to chemotherapy. The combination of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide has demonstrable, albeit limited, activity against metastatic endometrial cancer.