The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation

September 2020

Desmoid with biweekly methotrexate and vinblastine show similar effects to weekly administration: A phase II clinical trial

Author Information

Nishida Y(1,2), Hamada S(2,3), Urakawa H(2,4), Ikuta K(2,5), Sakai T(2), Koike H(2), Ito K(2), Emoto R(6), Ando Y(4), Matsui S(6).

(1)Dept of Rehabilitation, Nagoya Univ Hosp, Nagoya, Aichi, JP. (2)Dept of Orthopaedic Surg, Nagoya Univ Hosp, Nagoya, Aichi, JP. (3)Dept of Orthopaedic Surg, Aichi Cancer Center Hosp, Nagoya, Aichi, JP. (4)Dept of Clinical Oncology & Chemotherapy, Nagoya Univ Hosp, Nagoya, Aichi, JP. (5)Medical Genomics Center, Nagoya Univ Hosp, Nagoya, Aichi, JP. (6)Dept of Biostatistics, Nagoya Univ Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, JP.

Publication

Cancer Sci

Summary

Low-dose methotrexate (MTX) plus vinblastine (VBL) chemotherapy is an effective treatment for desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF). However, previous reports have described a weekly regimen, with no reports available on a biweekly one. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical outcomes of a biweekly regimen in a cohort prospectively treated in our single institution. Since 2010, we have prospectively treated refractory DF patients with biweekly MTX (30mg/m2) + VBL (6mg/m2). Efficacy, progression-free survival (PFS), and correlating factors were analyzed. Adverse events were recorded. In total, 38 patients received low-dose MTX + VBL therapy, and its efficacy was assessed in 37 of them. Nineteen (51%) patients showed partial response (PR). Clinical benefit rate was 95%. PFS at 5 years was 80.8 %. Only 3 adverse events of Grade 3/4 were observed. Tumor regrowth after MTX + VBL discontinuation was observed in 5 (20%) of 25 cases. Biweekly administration of MTX + VBL chemotherapy was well tolerated compared with weekly administration, and its efficacy was anticipated in DF patents, although the time needed to achieve a response may be relatively long. The treatment interval should be determined taking into account both the condition of the tumor and the patient's preference.

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