Study of the EFFECTIVENESS of chemo versus radiation for Uterine Carcinosarcoma

ronm1
ronm1 Member Posts: 1
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
We were told by several oncologists that having carcinosarcoma (in this case MMMT) of the uterine, we
would have to have radiation as well as chemo. This was the established protocol. But, we were lucky
enough to find a study on the efficacy of chemo versus radiation for this aggressive type of cancer cell.
Because this study began in 1999 the chemo being used then was the harsher regime of Cisplatin/
Ifosamide-Mesna versus the current Pacliitaxel/Carboplatin regime.

Here is the link for your benefit:

url for the Study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2752331/

Other info relating to the clinical trial and study: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00002546

We found out about this study by miraculously seeing Dr. Wolfson at the Sylvester Comprehensive
Cancer Center, affiliated with the University of Miami School of Medicine, as we were contemplating
radiation in our case.

Depending on your situation radiation might still be recommended but it is not as clear cut as several of
our doctor's led us to believe. Dr. Wolfson, by the way, is a very wonderful human being and has an
international reputation as a Radiation Oncologist. Highly recommended.

We hope this is helpful to you.

Comments

  • RoseyR
    RoseyR Member Posts: 471 Member
    #2
    Which Protocol is Better

    Because it's so rare a cancer, MMMT still has no universally prescribed treatment--although increasingly, oncologists are using recent studies that suggest that carboplatin and taxol, coupled with radiation (sandwich style, in between three rounds of chemo to start and three to finish) produce the best results. My own onc handed me a review study (more recent than the one you cite) that suggests the combination works best to gain a few years free of pelvic recurrence (hence the radiation) and hopefully, distant spread.

    I have, however, seen cases reported here on our site in which more advanced STAGES of MMMT (stage 2 or 3) were treated with the more aggressive ifosamide and cisplatin--whether or not with radiation, I don't recall.

    Best,
    Rosey
  • cleo
    cleo Member Posts: 144
    #3
    RoseyR said:

    Which Protocol is Better

    Because it's so rare a cancer, MMMT still has no universally prescribed treatment--although increasingly, oncologists are using recent studies that suggest that carboplatin and taxol, coupled with radiation (sandwich style, in between three rounds of chemo to start and three to finish) produce the best results. My own onc handed me a review study (more recent than the one you cite) that suggests the combination works best to gain a few years free of pelvic recurrence (hence the radiation) and hopefully, distant spread.

    I have, however, seen cases reported here on our site in which more advanced STAGES of MMMT (stage 2 or 3) were treated with the more aggressive ifosamide and cisplatin--whether or not with radiation, I don't recall.

    Best,
    Rosey

    Protocol question
    I am very interested in the above as I was treated by radiotherapy only for stage 3/4 MMMT. Told that chemo would be too severe When I joined this site I had a worrying question mark as to how effective my treatment would be and should I have had chemo but it is now 5 years since surgery and follow up treatment. I have learnt a great deal and it is reassuring to know that chemotherapy does not have to be a harsh regime. Thanks to all for the knowledge I have gained.
  • RoseyR
    RoseyR Member Posts: 471 Member
    #4
    New Multi-Institutional Studies on Best Treatment for MMMT

    If any of you Google "June, 2012 and uterine carcinosarcoma," you will bring up results of a large recent study which conclude the following:

    That "sandwich" treatment (chemo/radiation/chemo) seems to be the most effective for uterine carcinosarcoma;

    The chemo agents used in this study were ifosamide, cisplatin, and Mesna, producing a five-year survival rate of 60% for those with stage I and 11 disease.

    For those of us who had sandwich treatment with taxol/carboplatin, however, don't assume we were undertreated because the large study my own onc gave me showed that after sandwich treatment with these agents--less toxic than infosamide and cisplatin, by the way--five-year survival for those starting with stage 1 and stage 2 was 58%--pretty close to 60%, right?

    It sounds to me as if they are nearly comparable results. And both cohorts were large.

    Nor do these studies necessarily mean that if you yourself had only radiatio or onl chemo, you will necessarily do worse. They are merely studies reporting on the effectiveness of these two sandwich regimens.

    Best,
    Rosey
  • RoseyR
    RoseyR Member Posts: 471 Member
    #5
    New Multi-Institutional Studies on Best Treatment for MMMT

    If any of you Google "June, 2012 and uterine carcinosarcoma," you will bring up results of a large recent study which conclude the following:

    That "sandwich" treatment (chemo/radiation/chemo) seems to be the most effective for uterine carcinosarcoma;

    The chemo agents used in this study were ifosamide, cisplatin, and Mesna, producing a five-year survival rate of 60% for those with stage I and 11 disease.

    For those of us who had sandwich treatment with taxol/carboplatin, however, don't assume we were undertreated because the large study my own onc gave me showed that after sandwich treatment with these agents--less toxic than infosamide and cisplatin, by the way--five-year survival for those starting with stage 1 and stage 2 was 58%--pretty close to 60%, right?

    It sounds to me as if they are nearly comparable results. And both cohorts were large.

    Nor do these studies necessarily mean that if you yourself had only radiatio or onl chemo, you will necessarily do worse. They are merely studies reporting on the effectiveness of these two sandwich regimens.

    Best,
    Rosey
  • RoseyR
    RoseyR Member Posts: 471 Member
    #6
    New Multi-Institutional Studies on Best Treatment for MMMT

    If any of you Google "June, 2012 and uterine carcinosarcoma," you will bring up results of a large recent study which conclude the following:

    That "sandwich" treatment (chemo/radiation/chemo) seems to be the most effective for uterine carcinosarcoma;

    The chemo agents used in this study were ifosamide, cisplatin, and Mesna, producing a five-year survival rate of 60% for those with stage I and 11 disease.

    For those of us who had sandwich treatment with taxol/carboplatin, however, don't assume we were undertreated because the large study my own onc gave me showed that after sandwich treatment with these agents--less toxic than infosamide and cisplatin, by the way--five-year survival for those starting with stage 1 and stage 2 was 58%--pretty close to 60%, right?

    It sounds to me as if they are nearly comparable results. And both cohorts were large.

    Nor do these studies necessarily mean that if you yourself had only radiatio or onl chemo, you will necessarily do worse. They are merely studies reporting on the effectiveness of these two sandwich regimens.

    Best,
    Rosey
  • RoseyR
    RoseyR Member Posts: 471 Member
    #7
    New Multi-Institutional Studies on Best Treatment for MMMT

    If any of you Google "June, 2012 and uterine carcinosarcoma," you will bring up results of a large recent study which conclude the following:

    That "sandwich" treatment (chemo/radiation/chemo) seems to be the most effective for uterine carcinosarcoma;

    The chemo agents used in this study were ifosamide, cisplatin, and Mesna, producing a five-year survival rate of 60% for those with stage I and 11 disease.

    For those of us who had sandwich treatment with taxol/carboplatin, however, don't assume we were undertreated because the large study my own onc gave me showed that after sandwich treatment with these agents--less toxic than infosamide and cisplatin, by the way--five-year survival for those starting with stage 1 and stage 2 was 58%--pretty close to 60%, right?

    It sounds to me as if they are nearly comparable results. And both cohorts were large.

    Nor do these studies necessarily mean that if you yourself had only radiatio or onl chemo, you will necessarily do worse. They are merely studies reporting on the effectiveness of these two sandwich regimens.

    Best,
    Rosey

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