Efficacy and safety of trabectedin as an early treatment for advanced or metastatic liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the effect of prior chemotherapies on the outcomes of patients with liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma treated with trabectedin as a 24-h infusion every 3 weeks. Patients & methods: Data from 129 patients who received trabectedin as second-line treatment following failure with an anthracycline/ifosfamide and those who had received at least two lines of prior chemotherapy were analyzed. Results: Forty seven patients received one prior regimen (group A) and 82 patients received at least two lines of chemotherapy (group B). A favorable trend in median time to progression (4.4 vs 3.0 months), progression-free survival (4.4 vs 2.6 months) and overall survival (17.4 vs 13.3 months) was found in group A. A trend toward higher overall response rate (6.4 vs 4.9%) and disease control rate (34.0 vs 26.8%) also favored group A. Both groups had equivalent safety profiles. Conclusion: All efficacy outcomes were better in patients who received trabectedin as second-line treatment compared with patients with more extensive prior therapy.