Combined vindesine and razoxane shows antimetastatic activity in advanced soft tissue sarcomas

Background Razoxane and vindesine were shown to suppress distant metastasis in animal systems. Both drugs affect main steps of the metastatic cascade. Therefore, a pilot study was performed to study the influence of these drugs on the dynamics of metastasis in advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS). This study was now updated. Methods Twenty-three patients with unresectable ( n = 7) and oligometastatic STS ( n = 16) received a basic treatment with razoxane and vindesine supported by radiotherapy and occasionally by surgery. Long-term treatment was intended in patients with metastatic disease. The cumulative number of new metastases after 6 and 9 months were determined. Thirty-six patients with comparable stages of STS treated with contemporary chemotherapy served as non-randomized, retrospective controls. The prognostic parameters of the groups were comparable. Results In patients receiving razoxane and vindesine, the median number of new metastases after 6 months was 0 (range, 0–40) and after 9 months likewise 0 (0–70). The corresponding numbers in the control group were 4.5 (range, 0–40) and 9 (0–>100) ( P