LONG-LASTING COMPLETE REMISSION AFTER PROLONGED ADMINISTRATION OF ETOPOSIDE IN A CHILD WITH A 2ND RECURRENCE OF ALVEOLAR RHABDOMYOSARCOMA

The authors report a case of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the th igh complicated by two successive distant relapses shortly after radio - and chemotherapy, treated with etoposide, and resulting in complete long-lasting remission. The schedule of etaposide was 100 mg/ m(2)/d i ntravenously for three days weekly for 3 weeks, with an interval of 1 week between courses. This was administered for 11 months. The child i s at ive without disease and off therapy 20 months after completion of etoposide treatment. Preclinical studies and experience in adults hav e suggested that the cytotoxic effects of etoposide show a marked depe ndence on schedule. A divided dose regimen of single-agent etoposide h as previously been shown to have activity in relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma , but the outcome OF the duration of complete response has not yet bee n fully evaluated. in our poor-prognosis case, the prolonged administr ation of etoposide achieved a long-tasting complete response. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.