Prospective study of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation in adult patients with advanced desmoplastic small round-cell tumour
2003

High-Dose Chemotherapy for Desmoplastic Small Round-Cell Tumor

Sample size: 10 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Bertuzzi A, Castagna L, Quagliuolo V, Ginanni V, Compasso S, Magagnoli M, Balzarotti M, Nozza A, Siracusano L, Timofeeva I, Sarina B, Parra H Soto, Santoro A

Primary Institution: Istituto Clinico Humanitas

Hypothesis

Does high-dose chemotherapy improve outcomes in adult patients with desmoplastic small round-cell tumor?

Conclusion

High-dose chemotherapy does not improve clinical outcomes in patients with desmoplastic small round-cell tumor.

Supporting Evidence

  • 50% of patients achieved partial response after induction chemotherapy.
  • 60% of patients proceeded to surgery after treatment.
  • The median overall survival was 14 months.

Takeaway

This study looked at whether stronger chemotherapy helps people with a rare cancer called desmoplastic small round-cell tumor, and it found that it doesn't really help.

Methodology

Patients aged 15-60 with desmoplastic small round-cell tumor were treated with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, followed by response evaluation.

Limitations

The study had a small sample size and focused only on male patients.

Participant Demographics

All 10 patients were male with a median age of 29 years.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/sj.bjc.6601304

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