Successful treatment of a desmoid tumor with doxorubicin.

Overview

BACKGROUND: Desmoid tumors are the source of significant morbidity and mortality in patients with Gardner syndrome. METHODS: The authors present a case report and review of the literature. RESULTS: A young woman with an extensive abdominal desmoid had a prolonged response to doxorubicin after she did not respond to more conventional treatments. CONCLUSIONS: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the successful treatment of desmoids with doxorubicin used as a single agent. Reports of the efficacy of chemotherapy in these and related tumors are reviewed.