First-Line Chemotherapy Regimens for Advanced and Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma: Doxorubicin vs. Gemcitabine—A Systematic Review

Cancer research · Leiomyosarcoma

Doxorubicin-based regimens remain the most active first‑line option for leiomyosarcoma.

Background: Leiomyosarcomas are an aggressive soft‑tissue sarcoma that arise from smooth muscle, have a high metastatic potential and account for 10–20 % of soft‑tissue sarcomas. Despite decades of research, the first‑line treatment remains unresolved due to the absence of direct comparative trials, heterogeneous study designs, and trade‑offs between efficacy and toxicity. This systematic review evaluates the optimal therapeutic systemic chemotherapy regimens in the first‑line setting, specifically gemcitabine‑ and doxorubicin‑based regimens, including associated toxicities. Methods: A systematic search in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and Cochrane Library (Wiley) identified studies of first‑line gemcitabine‑ or doxorubicin‑based chemotherapy for leiomyosarcoma. Results: The review included two phase 3 trials, six phase 2 trials, one phase 1b trial, and two retrospective studies. While there was no direct comparison in this setting, doxorubicin‑based combinations consistently reported higher objective response rates, progression‑free survival, and overall survival. The most favorable outcomes were observed in the LMS04 trial with doxorubicin plus trabectedin followed by surgery and trabectedin maintenance, yielding a median progression‑free survival of 12 months, overall survival of 33 months, and objective response rate of 36 %. This regimen also had the highest grade 3‑4 toxicity.

This review provides clinicians and researchers with a clear, up‑to‑date overview of treatment effectiveness, safety considerations, and remaining knowledge gaps, and highlights priorities for future clinical trials in advanced leiomyosarcoma.

Evidence level: Számítógépes vagy elméleti. Modellből vagy adatbányászatból származó jel.

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