Large inoperable leiomyosarcoma of the prostate: treated by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting microspheres

BACKGROUND: Prostatic leiomyosarcoma (LMS) has a poor prognosis with a median overall survival (OS) of 15–18 months. For patients with metastatic disease, radical surgical resection, with or without adjuvant systemic chemotherapy and radiation therapy, unfortunately provides limited therapeutic benefit. Novel approaches for this lethal disease are urgently needed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with doxorubicin-eluting HepaSpheres (HS) for inoperable LMS of the prostate. METHODS: This case series included 12 patients (median age 57 years, range 32–74) with inoperable LMS of the prostate who were treated with TACE using doxorubicin-eluting HS. All patients were pathologically proved by fine-needle biopsy. Symptomatic relief, complications, OS, and local disease control based on modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) criteria were evaluated. RESULTS: Symptomatic relief, including control of the gross hematuria, removal of indwelling catheters, improvement of constipation and perineal pain, were obtained in 100%, 75%, 100%, and 86%, respectively after TACE, without any major complications. At the last follow-up after TACE, the percentage of the tumor necrosis and volume reduction were present with a median value of 90% and 84%, respectively. TACE after two to four sessions allowed subsequent surgical resection in five (41.7%) patients. The median follow-up time was 29 months; the survival rate at 1, 2, and 3 years was 91.7%, 83.3%, and 41.7%, respectively, and the median OS was 29 months (range 9–49 months). CONCLUSIONS: TACE of inoperable LMS of the prostate appears to be safe and effective in providing tumor necrosis, shrinkage, and symptom relief; that could improve the quality of life and the survival rate of these patients.