Published in:
01-08-2012 | Original Article
Long-term medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy for low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma
Published in: International Journal of Clinical Oncology | Issue 4/2012
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Background
Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is a rare tumor. Endocrine treatment is frequently necessary, but treatment details have not been established.
Patients and methods
Thirteen consecutive patients with low-grade ESS were examined clinicopathologically. All patients underwent surgery, and six were treated with a uniform regimen of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) against residual or recurrent disease.
Results
Of the 13 patients, 9 were in stage I, whereas the others were in advanced stages. The median follow-up period was 117 months (range 43–170 months). Six patients, including three with residual peritoneal dissemination and three with recurrent tumors, were treated with MPA. Six months after the initiation of treatment, 3 patients demonstrated a partial response, and 3 patients demonstrated stable disease. The median dosing period was 64 months (range 28–92 months). Five of the patients, including 2 patients who are alive with no evidence of disease and 3 patients who are alive with disease, continue with MPA therapy.
Conclusion
The clinicopathological characteristics of the low-grade ESS in this study are consistent with those reported in previous studies. MPA therapy with residual or recurrent disease achieved excellent disease control over a period of 5 years. These results indicate that MPA therapy might be considered as a therapeutic option for residual or recurrent low-grade ESS and perhaps chosen as a first-line therapy.