Pazopanib for treating rhabdomyosarcoma in adult patients with poor performance status: A case report

Abstract

Abstract Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a common soft tissue sarcoma usually observed in children. However, RMS rarely occurs in adults. The prognosis of adult RMS is poor and a standard chemotherapy regimen has not yet been established. Herein, we report the case of a 60‐year‐old Japanese woman with primary anterior mediastinal alveolar RMS (T3N0M0, stage III). The tumor increased aggressively despite first‐line treatment with doxorubicin (60 mg/m2 every 3 weeks for 1 cycle) and second‐line treatment with eribulin (1.4 mg/m2 every 3 weeks for 2 cycles). Although her shortness of breath and chest tightness worsened as the tumor compressed her heart and left main bronchus, and her performance status (PS) decreased to 3, third‐line treatment with pazopanib (800 mg once daily) was commenced. The treatment led to suppression of tumor growth and resulted in 4‐month progression‐free survival. Therefore, in cases of adult RMS, considering pazopanib treatment as an option may be beneficial, even with previous ineffective treatments or poor PS.

Keywords

• pazopanib
• poor performance status
• rhabdomyosarcoma
• soft tissue sarcoma