Efficacy of the VIT (vincristine, irinotecan and temozolomide) regimen in adults with metastatic Ewing sarcoma

Abstract

The goal of the research was to investigate if a combination of vincristine, irinotecan and temozolomide (VIT) could benefit adult patients with metastatic Ewing sarcoma who had already been heavily pretreated. Metastatic Ewing sarcoma patients had their data retrospectively analyzed. The patients' clinical, radiological and therapeutic data were recorded. Survival analyzes were performed with these data. The study enlisted the participation of sixteen patients. The average age was 25 years old (range: 20–42). The lung was the most prevalent metastatic location (81.3%). Patients had received at least two distinct chemotherapy combinations (87.5%) and palliative radiotherapy (37.5%) before receiving the (VIT) combination. The Median progression-free survival time was found as 3.4 (95% CI, 1.8–4.9) months. Five patients (31.3%) experienced a partial response, while the remaining patients (68.7%) had progressing disease. Thirteen individuals (81.3%) had grade 1–2 adverse events, whereas five (31.3%) had grade 3–4 adverse events. Hematological complications were the most common side effects (87.5%). Median overall survival was calculated as 5.6 (95% CI, 3.6–7.5) months in the patients after the beginning of VIT regimen. We demonstrated the efficacy of the VIT regimen in adult patients with metastatic Ewing sarcoma in this research. In these extensively pretreated patients, toxicities were a concern. Metastatic Ewing sarcoma patients have few treatment choices. In patients who have had a good performance status, VIT regimen may be considered for disease control.

Keywords:

• Ewing sarcoma
• metastasis
• prognosis
• vincristine
• irinotecan
• temozolomide

Acknowledgments

We thank to Meltem Ekenel, MD, for ideas about the study.

Author contributions

Idea and design: ID, AI, MB; Data collection: ID, AI, MB; Statistical analysis and writing: ID, AI, MAA, MB; Revision of the article for important intellectual content: ID, AI, MAA, MB.

Ethical approval

The local ethics committee approved this study at the Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine (Number: 2021/265204).

Informed consent

For this type of research, informed consent is not required.

Presentation at a meeting

This study was presented as a poster at the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting.

Disclosure statement

The authors declared that there are no potential conflicts of interest.

Data availability statement

This published paper contains all of the data produced or analyzed during this investigation.

Additional information

Funding

Neither financial nor of other nature