Youth with rhabdomyosarcoma see better survival with maintenance chemo
REPORTING FROM ASCO 2018
The maintenance regimen was well tolerated compared with the regimen given during standard intensive therapy, with, for example, lower rates of grade 3 and 4 anemia (8.9% vs. 48.9%), neutropenia (80.6% vs. 91.6%), and thrombocytopenia (0.6% vs. 26.0%), which translated to less need for transfusions, and a lower rate of grade 3 or 4 infection (29.4% vs. 56.4%), Dr. Bisogno reported. There were no cases of grade 3 or 4 cardiac, hepatobiliary/pancreatic, or renal toxicity.
Relative to peers who stopped treatment after standard intensive therapy, patients who received maintenance treatment tended to have better disease-free survival (77.6% vs. 69.8%; hazard ratio, 0.68; P = .0613) and had significantly better overall survival (86.5% vs. 73.7%; hazard ratio, 0.52; P = .0111).
Dr. Bisogno disclosed that he has a consulting or advisory role with Clinigen Group, and receives travel, accommodations, and/or expenses from Jazz Pharmaceuticals. The study received funding from Fondazione Città della Speranza, Italy.
SOURCE: Bisogno et al. ASCO 2018 Abstract LBA2.
