Background: Patients with recurrent soft tissue sarcoma (STS) are seldom curable, with 5-year survival rates of less than 10% in all large series. The role of high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with hematopoietic stem cell support in this disease has not been established.
Case report: We report on two patients with recurrent STS who were treated with tandem HDC supported by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). One patient with malignant fibrous histiocytoma recurred with multiple lung metastases. This patient achieved a partial response after two cycles of induction chemotherapy consisting of ifosfamide and epirubicin. During four cycles of induction chemotherapy, peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) were harvested. Tandem high-dose ICE regimen (ifosfamide 3 g/m2 on days-7 to -3, carboplatin 400 mg/m2 on days-7, -5 and 3, etoposide 500 mg/m2 on days-7, -5 and 3) supported by autologous PBSCT gave rise to further regression of the tumors. Another patient with malignant hemangiopericytoma was treated by tandem high-dose ICE regimen supported by autologous PBSCT after the 3rd removal of abdominal tumors. Relapse-free intervals until the 1st, 2nd and 3rd relapses were 40, 19 and 22 months, respectively. Tandem high-dose ICE regimen might delay the relapse.
Conclusion: These observations suggest that a tandem high-dose ICE regimen with autologous PBSCT is feasible with some clinical efficacy in the control of refractory STS.