Retrospective Evaluation of Trabectedin Use in Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A Single-Center Experience

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the treatment responses, survival results, and drug side effects of patients treated with trabectedin for metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. The files of 16 patients who received trabectedin treatment with the diagnosis of sarcoma were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic characteristics of the patients, duration of treatment, response to treatment, and drug side effects were recorded. Of 16 patients, 9 (56.2%) were male and 7 (43.7%) were female. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for trabectedin was 2.9 months, and overall survival (OS) was 6.7 months. The only factor effective on survival was determined as trabectedin treatment order. Patients receiving trabectedin as 2nd or 3rd line therapy had better PFS time (median PFS 10.3 vs 1.6 months, 95% CI: 0-21.9, p:0.003) and OS time (median 26.7 vs 5.7 months, 95% CI: 16.9-36.5, p: 0.003). Patients with a growth modulation index (GMI) value above 1.33, which is used as an objective response evaluation metric in sarcoma studies, had statistically significantly better PFS and OS times (median PFS 19.8 months, p=0.002; median OS 26.7 months, p=0.047). Any grade side effects were observed in all patients, grade 3/4 side effects were hematological side effects 62.5% and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/ aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increase 50%. The PFS, OS, response rates and side effects detected in the study were found to be similar to other studies, and it was determined that the patients who received trabectedin as the second and third-line treatment benefited more from the drug.