Combination chemotherapy (CYVADIC) in metastatic soft tissue sarcomas

Forty-one patients with metastatic sarcoma were treated with Adriamycin, 50 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, Cyclophosphamide, 500 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, Vincristine, 1 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 and 5, and Dacarbazine (DTIC), 250 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1-5 (CYVADIC). Three patients had a complete regression, while 8 patients had a partial regression of greater than 50%. The combined response rate was 27%. Eight additional patients showed stabilization of disease for an average of 5 months while 22 patients progressed on CYVADIC. Ultimately, 7 patients with initial tumor regression had progression of their disease. Four patients with partial regression had excision of the regressed nodules of tumor and continued on chemotherapy for a year. They remain alive at a median follow-up of 24.5 months, suggesting that removal of partially regressed nodules may improve results.