THURSDAY, June 21 (HealthDay News) -- Trabectedin (ecteinascidin-743), a compound derived from the sea squirt, has anti-tumor activity in some patients with myxoid liposarcoma, according to a report published online June 21 in The Lancet Oncology.
Federica Grosso, M.D., of the National Cancer Institute in Milan, Italy, and colleagues conducted a study of 51 patients with advanced pretreated myxoid liposarcoma who were given a median of 10 courses each of trabectedin either as a 24-hour continuous infusion or every 21 days for three hours.
The patients were followed for a median 14 months, during which time there was a 51 percent overall response rate, including two patients who had a complete response and 24 who had partial responses. Among these cases, 17 patients experienced tumor shrinkages, preceded by a decrease in tumor density.
The study was conducted under a compassionate use program, which is still ongoing, the authors note. "This analysis has resulted in the initiation of two prospective studies to assess the role of trabectedin in the treatment of patients with myxoid liposarcoma in preoperative and metastatic settings. Furthermore, the selective mechanism of action for trabectedin in this translocation-related sarcoma is being studied," they write.
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