Antitumour activity of paclitaxel and interferon-alpha in a case of metastatic eccrine porocarcinoma

Abstract

Background: Eccrine porocarcinoma (EP) is a rare malignant tumour arising in the acrosyringium, with about 50% of the cases developing local recurrence or metastatic disease. No standard therapy protocols for metastatic disease exist. In the past, only short remissions were achieved by applying combinations of cytotoxic agents, which were associated with severe side-effects.

Aim of the study: In the case reported here, the aim was to find a protocol with fewer side-effects for a patient who was not willing to undergo extensive polychemotherapy.

Subject: A 67-year-old male patient with local recurrence and regional lymph node metastases after resection of EP was treated with a combination of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) 9 million units s.c. three times per week and paclitaxel 100 mg/m(2) weekly i.v., which shows a side-effect profile similar to taxotere and is used in the treatment of a variety of neoplasms such as advanced squamous cell carcinoma.

Main outcome: This less aggressive treatment was tolerated well and the patient responded with minor remission and long-term stable disease.