Evaluating the Activity of Trabectedin and Radiotherapy in Sarcoma
Alessandro Gronchi, MD, discusses a phase 2 trial of trabectedin and radiotherapy in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma.
Alessandro Gronchi, MD, chair of the Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committee of the Italian Sarcoma Group (ISG) and chair of the Sarcoma Service at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, discusses a phase 2 trial (NCT02275286) of trabectedin (Yondelis) and radiotherapy in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma.
Gronchi says trabectedin alone and radiotherapy alone achieved tumor shrinkage in as many as 40% to 50% of patients with myxoid liposarcoma, which is good for this setting. Both of these agents together have less adverse events compared to other drugs for these patients. The combination of the 2 therapies achieved responses in about 70% of patients in this study.
The tumor pathologic response observed for these patients was impressive, according to Gronchi. Over 90% of patients who received trabectedin and radiotherapy had less than 10% viable remaining tumor on their surgical specimen. This is indicative of significant activity when treating with these drugs together. The international prospective trial concluded that this combination could become an alternative to anthracycline and ifosfamide (Ifex) concurrent to radiotherapy in the high-risk localized myxoid liposarcoma population.
