Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma with an impressive response to chemotherapy: case report and review of the literature.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) represents a rare sarcoma subtype of the adult population. Due to its clinical characteristics, treatment is currently based on the guidelines for adult soft tissue sarcoma therapy. Hence, in the metastatic setting, doxorubicin-containing regimens are used in the sarcoma community, with limited treatment benefit. Scanty published data are available on the efficacy of systemic treatment. Whether treatment response and outcome of these patients could be improved by using pediatric protocols used typically in other RMS subtypes, like embryonal and alveolar RMS, is unclear. We report on an impressive effect of multiagent pediatric chemotherapy in an adult patient with metastatic pleomorphic RMS. METHODS: We present the case of a 70-year-old man with metastatic pleomorphic RMS of his left thigh. Systemic chemotherapy according to the VAC regimen (vincristine, actinomycin, cyclophosphamide) was initiated. Follow-up clinical and radiologic assessment demonstrated an impressive treatment response. RESULTS: Sixteen months after primary diagnosis, computed tomography scan shows no signs of tumor progression. CONCLUSIONS: Our case report emphasizes that multiagent systemic therapy according to pediatric protocols should be considered in adult patients with pleomorphic RMS.