Trabectedin in Advanced High-Grade Uterine Leiomyosarcoma: A Case Report Illustrating the Value of 18FDG-PET-CT in Assessing Treatment Response

We report the case of a 60-year-old woman with metastatic high-grade uterine leiomyosarcoma who achieved a delayed response to second-line therapy with the marine-derived drug trabectedin (Yondelis(®), PharmaMar). We used 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F] fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET-CT) imaging as a tool for response monitoring in parallel with conventional re-staging according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) using computed tomography (CT). We illustrate the role of serial (18)FDG-PET-CT imaging in the functional assessment of tumour response. Three cycles after commencement of trabectedin treatment, a reduction of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the solid component of the pelvic mass was observed, indicating a cystic or necrotic response in the tumour to trabectedin. After 7 cycles of treatment, on (18)FDG-PET-CT there was clear evidence of ongoing disease improvement: the solid pelvic components were at worst stable, with an unchanged SUVmax, and possibly marginally reduced in size, while the pulmonary metastases had further reduced in size and become FDG negative; the bony metastases were stable. After a total of 13 cycles of treatment, administered over 13 months, the patient showed signs of progression on an (18)FDG-PET-CT scan. The safety profile of trabectedin remained manageable, showing no evidence of cumulative toxicity and being associated with a preserved quality of life. This report illustrates potential limitations of RECIST in response assessments and the critical role of serial (18)FDG-PET-CT imaging in assessing response to trabectedin treatment. Therefore, we propose that (18)FDG-PET-CT may improve the assessment of response to trabectedin in selected patients.