Treatment of extra-abdominal desmoid tumors with interferon-alpha with or without tretinoin.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Surgery is the main treatment for extra-abdominal desmoid tumors, but the results of further management remain uncertain. Therefore, a retrospective analysis was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) +/- tretinoin in this setting.

METHODS:

Thirteen patients with extra-abdominal desmoid tumors and a median age of 32 years (range, 15-73) received IFN-alpha. Seven of these patients received a combination of IFN-alpha and tretinoin in order to test further enhancement.

RESULTS:

After a mean observation period of 27 +/- 15 months (mean +/- standard deviation) under treatment with IFN-alpha +/- tretinoin, local control was seen in 11 of 13 patients (85%). Seven patients had no evidence of disease at a mean disease-free interval of 22 +/- 18 months; in two patients progressive disease occurred after only 7 and 9 months, respectively, of observation. In another four patients, progression of the desmoid tumor was stabilized.

CONCLUSIONS:

The data of this retrospective, nonrandomized study on therapy with IFN-alpha +/- tretinoin suggest that such treatment may be effective in prolonging the disease-free interval of patients after intralesional or marginal surgery. Because of the encouraging response rate, this regimen appears to be another nonsurgical treatment alternative.

• Authors: A Leithner, B Schnack, T Katterschafka, C Wiltschke, G Amann, R Windhager, R Kotz, C C Zielinski
• Journal: Journal of surgical oncology (J Surg Oncol) Vol. 73 Issue 1 Pg. 21-5 (Jan 2000) ISSN: 0022-4790 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10649274 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Interferon-alpha
• Tretinoin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
• Disease Progression
• Disease-Free Survival
• Female
• Fibromatosis, Aggressive (drug therapy, surgery)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Interferon-alpha (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (drug therapy, surgery)
• Retrospective Studies
• Survival Rate
• Tretinoin (administration & dosage)