The low prevalence rate and limited literature on eccrine carcinoma (EC) pose a challenge to properly diagnosing and treating this rare malignancy. EC lesions tend to present similarly to other cutaneous neoplasms and dermatitis-like conditions. Efficacious treatment guidelines have not been established for patients diagnosed with EC, and few treatment regimens have demonstrated clinical benefit. Due to the high metastatic potential of EC, recognizing the clinical presentation, properly diagnosing, and utilizing beneficial treatment options are important for managing this disease. We report a case of a 66-year-old female who presented with lesions that her primary care provider misdiagnosed as basal cell carcinoma. The disease responded poorly to taxane- and platinum-based chemotherapies as well as an isolated limb perfusion of an alkylating agent. However, continuous dosing of oral capecitabine achieved an 18-month period of progression free survival (PFS) and ameliorated quality of life. We wish to highlight this rare disease and discuss presentation, diagnosis, and management as it is most often misdiagnosed leading to advanced metastatic disease when patients present to the oncologist. In addition, it is crucial to study and report potentially efficacious regimens considering the lack of clinical trials in this disease.
145 Background: For the treatment of esophageal and GEJ carcinomas, weekly cisplatin (20-30 mg/m2 weekly; total dose approximately 100 mg/m2) has demonstrated efficacy and tolerability. Pemetrexed (PEM) in combination with carboplatin and concomitant radiation has also shown activity for treatment of esophageal or lung carcinomas on a tri-weekly schedule, despite tolerability when administered weekly. This is the first phase I trial sought to establish the MTD of bi-weekly PEM in combination with weekly cisplatin and radiation in patients with locally advanced/metastatic esophageal and GEJ carcinomas. Methods: This is a phase I single institution, open-label dose-escalation trial (Fibonacci 3+3). Patients with stage III/IV esophageal cancer received PEM on weeks 1, 3, and 5 at doses of 300, 500, 750 mg/m2 concurrently with weekly cisplatin (20 mg/m2) and 28 daily fractions of radiation (total 50.4 Gy). If 1 or fewer DLTs were observed, the next cohort of patients received an escalated dose. If two or more patients develop DLTs, then dose escalation halted. Primary endpoint was to determine MTD; secondary endpoints included tolerability and preliminary anti-tumor activity using RECIST (Version 1.0). Results: 8 patients enrolled; median age was 72 (range 56-81); 50% were male; ECOG range was 0-2; 50% of patients had adenocarcinoma (AC), remaining patients had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC); 63% and 37% of patients were stage III and IV, respectively. Dose-escalation proceeded to 750 mg/m2 dose. The MTD was determined to be 500 mg/m2 bi-weekly following grade 4 dehydration and esophagitis at 750 mg/m2. DLTs observed were grade 4 thrombosis and grade 3 neutropenia at 300 and 500 mg/m2, respectively. Complete response was observed in 50% of patients (75% stage III SCC), partial response in 25% of patients (100% Stage IV AC), and disease progression in 1 patient (Stage III AC). 38% of patients proceeded to surgery. Conclusions: The combination of bi-weekly pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 and weekly cisplatin concomitantly with radiation demonstrates efficacy in patients with advanced or metastatic GEJ carcinomas with manageable safety profile. Clinical trial information: NCT00701857.
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