Gil Bar-Sela1, Avivit Peer, Shelly Rothschild, Nissim Haim. 1. Division of Oncology, Rambam-Health Care Campus, and Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. g_barsela@rambam.health.gov.il
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Most clinical trials on Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors include pediatric and adolescent populations, whereas clinical data on older patients are limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report on 5 patients older than 50 years with a tumor of the Ewing's sarcoma family treated recently in our department. RESULTS: Myelosuppression and infectious complications were the main toxicity encountered. Major dose reductions and/or treatment delays were required in all 5 patients. One patient died of septic shock. Complete remission was achieved in the remaining 4 patients with the addition of different treatment modalities. One patient had lung metastasis 3 years after starting chemotherapy, and 3 patients have remained without evidence of recurrent disease for 1-6 years from the onset of chemotherapy CONCLUSIONS: There is no definite answer as to whether older age is a poor prognostic factor in patients with a tumor of the Ewing's sarcoma family. In our experience, patients over 50 poorly tolerated the standard chemotherapy protocol used in the pediatric population.
BACKGROUND: Most clinical trials on Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors include pediatric and adolescent populations, whereas clinical data on older patients are limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report on 5 patients older than 50 years with a tumor of the Ewing's sarcoma family treated recently in our department. RESULTS: Myelosuppression and infectious complications were the main toxicity encountered. Major dose reductions and/or treatment delays were required in all 5 patients. One patient died of septic shock. Complete remission was achieved in the remaining 4 patients with the addition of different treatment modalities. One patient had lung metastasis 3 years after starting chemotherapy, and 3 patients have remained without evidence of recurrent disease for 1-6 years from the onset of chemotherapy CONCLUSIONS: There is no definite answer as to whether older age is a poor prognostic factor in patients with a tumor of the Ewing's sarcoma family. In our experience, patients over 50 poorly tolerated the standard chemotherapy protocol used in the pediatric population.