Survival of patients with metastatic malignant pheochromocytoma and efficacy of combined cyclophosphamide, vincristine and dacarbazine chemotherapy
Nomura K et al. - In a study to analyze survival curves and survival times of pts with malignant pheochromocytoma and determine the efficacy of chemotherapy on prolongation of life, this study revealed a long survival time. Vincristine and dacarbazine (CVD) chemotherapy was not shown to extend survival, especially for women and pts with adrenal gland-derived primary tumors. Methods- This was an inception cohort and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.
- 32 pts with metastasized malignant pheochromocytoma were analyzed for survival.
- 25 pts had undergone excision of their primary tumors.
- Survival curves were compared among 16 pts in the group treated with combined chemotherapy using CVD and 9 pts not treated with chemotherapy.
Results- The survival curve of the 32 pts declined continuously and linearly to at least 20 yrs after diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.
- The 50% survival rate was estimated to be 14.7 yrs.
- In the 25 pts whose primary tumor was excised, pts who already had metastases at the time of pheochromocytoma diagnosis had better survival than those whose metastases were found later.
- Survival rate after diagnosis of metastasis was worse in the CVD group than in controls.
- When the effects of CVD were examined after stratifying several factors, female gender and adrenal origin of tumor were found to be negative prognostic factors for CVD chemotherapy.
[more...]
|
|
|
