Auto-discovered from 1 recent study; not yet curated.
Case reportReported positiveLimited evidenceTier 3 · early humann = 1
Brain sciences · Jul 2023 · case report
This is a single-patient case report of a 10-year-old boy with a primary intracranial sarcoma harboring DICER1 mutations and a KRAS mutation. He underwent urgent surgical debulking followed by chemotherapy (ifosfamide, carboplatin, etoposide) and focal proton beam radiotherapy, after which the tumor showed a dramatic reduction and there was no radiographic evidence of residual disease at the primary site at the end of therapy.
Studied with: ifosfamide + carboplatin + etoposide chemotherapy, focal proton beam radiotherapy.
Key findings
- Patient presented with a large right frontal hemorrhagic lesion; urgent debulking showed a high-grade sarcomatous lesion.
- Molecular studies found compound heterozygous DICER1 variants (a frameshift insertion and a missense mutation) and a KRAS missense mutation; final diagnosis 'primary intracranial sarcoma, DICER1-mutant'.
- Germline testing identified a germline DICER1 variant; parental testing was negative (variant thought most likely de novo).
- Chemotherapy (ifosfamide, carboplatin, etoposide) combined with focal proton beam radiotherapy precipitated a dramatic reduction in tumor size and there was no evidence of residual disease at the primary site at the end of therapy.
Limitations: Single-patient case report (n=1), so findings are not generalizable.; No control or comparison group.; No dosing details or schedule for chemotherapy or radiotherapy provided in the abstract.; Follow-up duration and longer-term outcomes are not reported in the abstract..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text
Human trialTrialReported positiveStrong evidenceTier 4 · clinicaln = 536
Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology · Mar 2022 · randomized phase III trial
This randomized phase III study compared paclitaxel plus carboplatin with paclitaxel plus ifosfamide in adults with uterine or ovarian carcinosarcoma. In uterine carcinosarcoma, paclitaxel plus carboplatin was not inferior to the ifosfamide regimen and had longer median overall survival and progression-free survival. Toxicities were broadly similar, although some side effects differed between the two groups.
Reported effects: median OS 37 mo, p P < .01 for noninferiority, P > .1 for superiority, n=449 · HR 0.87 [0.7–1.075], p P < .01 for noninferiority, P > .1 for superiority, n=449 · +4 more
Studied with: carboplatin, ifosfamide.
Key findings
- In uterine carcinosarcoma, paclitaxel plus carboplatin was not inferior to paclitaxel plus ifosfamide for overall survival.
- Median overall survival was 37 versus 29 months in uterine carcinosarcoma.
- Median progression-free survival was 16 versus 12 months in uterine carcinosarcoma.
- Toxicities were similar overall, with more hematologic toxicity in the paclitaxel-carboplatin arm and more confusion and genitourinary hemorrhage in the paclitaxel-ifosfamide arm.
- In ovarian carcinosarcoma, paclitaxel plus carboplatin had numerically longer survival outcomes, but the differences were not statistically significant.
Limitations: Primary analysis was focused on uterine carcinosarcoma; ovarian carcinosarcoma results had limited precision.; The abstract reports noninferiority and superiority p-values but does not provide full confidence intervals for progression-free survival.; Toxicity details are summarized only briefly in the abstract..
This study evaluates chemotherapy regimens in carcinosarcoma, a cancer setting, with direct survival and toxicity outcomes.
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text
Human · observationalReported positiveLimited evidenceTier 3 · early humann = 8
Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics · Mar 2016 · retrospective multicenter review
This retrospective review (two Canadian centers, 1995–2012) describes 8 children with primary intracranial (cerebral hemisphere) sarcoma who received surgery when possible, focal radiotherapy (54–60 Gy) with concomitant etoposide, and ICE chemotherapy given before and after radiotherapy (6–8 cycles). Gross-total resection was achieved in 5 patients. Seven of the 8 included patients were alive at a median of 4.9 years (range 1.9–17.9) after treatment. The report also notes that many hemisphere tumors presented with acute intratumoral hemorrhage and that 3 of 8 patients had neurofibromatosis Type 1.
Reported effects: patients_identified 14 · hemisphere_tumors 9 · +10 more
Studied with: focal radiation therapy, surgery (gross-total resection).
Key findings
- Fourteen patients with nonmetastatic primary CNS sarcoma were identified; in 9 patients, tumors were located in the cerebral hemisphere and 7 of these patients presented with intratumoral hemorrhage.
- One infant who died postoperatively before receiving adjuvant therapy was excluded; final cohort included 8 patients (4 males).
- Median patient age at diagnosis was 11.8 years (range 5.8–17 years).
- Duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis had a median of 2 days (range 3–7 days) in most patients.
- Three (37.5%) patients had neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1).
- Gross-total resection was achieved in 5 patients.
- Focal radiation therapy dose ranged between 54 Gy and 60 Gy; concomitant etoposide was given during RT.
- ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, etoposide) chemotherapy was given before and after RT for a total of 6–8 cycles.
- Seven of the 8 patients were alive at a median time of 4.9 years (range 1.9–17.9 years) after treatment.
Limitations: Retrospective design; Very small sample size (final n = 8); No control or comparator group; Selected cohort (one infant who died before adjuvant therapy was excluded); Limited generalizability (two centers, single-country series); Heterogeneous prior management and limited detail on chemotherapy dosing beyond cycle counts.
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed
ReviewMixed resultsLimited evidenceTier 4 · clinical
Current opinion in oncology · Jul 2014 · narrative review
This narrative review summarizes evidence-based management of recurrent and metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma. For disseminated disease the authors state fixed‑dose‑rate gemcitabine plus docetaxel is an appropriate first-line chemotherapy and list other active cytotoxic agents (doxorubicin, ifosfamide, dacarbazine). They note trabectedin and other targeted therapies are under investigation (pazopanib is currently the only approved targeted therapy for advanced soft tissue sarcoma) and that aromatase inhibitors may be reasonable for small-volume, slowly progressive ER/PR-positive disease. The authors conclude overall survival for advanced disease remains poor and novel agents are needed.
Studied with: fixed-dose-rate gemcitabine plus docetaxel.
Key findings
- Selected patients with localized or single-organ oligometastatic disease may benefit from surgical resection.
- For patients with disseminated disease, fixed-dose-rate gemcitabine plus docetaxel is an appropriate first-line chemotherapy regimen.
- Other active cytotoxic agents include doxorubicin, ifosfamide, and dacarbazine.
- The role of trabectedin is being explored; trabectedin is approved by the European Medicine Agency to be marketed for advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma.
- Trials are underway for targeted therapy in uterine LMS; currently, the only approved targeted therapy for advanced soft tissue sarcoma is pazopanib.
- In patients with small volume and slowly progressive estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor-positive disease, antiestrogen therapy with an aromatase inhibitor is a reasonable alternative to observation alone.
- Despite recent advances, overall survival for advanced disease remains poor and identification of novel agents with activity in LMS is needed.
Limitations: Narrative review rather than primary data or systematic review; no new quantitative results presented in this article.; Conclusions depend on the quantity and quality of existing trials, which are not detailed in the abstract.; No sample sizes, effect sizes, or trial-level data are reported in the abstract to support comparative effectiveness claims..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed
Meta-analysisTrialInconclusiveLimited evidenceTier 4 · clinical
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · Feb 2013 · Cochrane systematic review of randomized controlled trials (searched for RCTs) and discussion of non-randomised studies; search up to February 2012
This Cochrane systematic review searched for randomized trials comparing neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or chemotherapy alone, combined with surgery for ovarian carcinosarcoma and found no eligible randomized controlled trials. The authors therefore found no evidence to inform decisions about which adjuvant or neoadjuvant regimens to use and called for multicentre RCTs or well-designed non-randomised studies and further molecular research.
Studied with: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy.
Key findings
- No randomized controlled trials were identified comparing neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or chemotherapy alone, in women with ovarian carcinosarcoma.
- The search strategy identified 297 unique references, all of which were excluded and therefore no data were analysed.
- Various chemotherapy regimens have been used historically (including cisplatin; combinations with doxorubicin, ifosfamide, dacarbazine, cyclophosphamide, taxol), but their effectiveness appears mixed.
- Authors recommend multicentre or multinational RCTs, or well-designed non-randomised studies using multivariate analysis, and further research into genetic and molecular signalling pathways.
- The authors note the importance of addressing quality of life and toxicity given the generally poor prognosis.
Limitations: No randomized controlled trials were found, so no quantitative data or pooled analysis could be performed.; Search was conducted up to February 2012; more recent studies (after that date) would not be included.; Rare disease with likely limited available studies, limiting the ability to draw conclusions..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text
Human · observationalInconclusiveLimited evidenceTier 3 · early humann = 22
International journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society · Jan 2008 · retrospective registry review
This retrospective study reviewed 22 women with ovarian carcinosarcoma treated at one institution. Most patients had advanced disease, and the authors reported median survival and progression-free intervals for different surgery and chemotherapy groups. Survival was not significantly different between the cisplatin/ifosfamide group and the carboplatin/taxol group. The study suggests these regimens were used in this rare cancer, but it does not establish which one is better.
Reported effects: median survival for the entire cohort 38 mo, n=22 · median survival for 18 optimally debulked (<1 cm) patients 46 mo, n=18 · +3 more
Studied with: ifosfamide, taxol, carboplatin, cisplatin.
Key findings
- Twenty-two patients were identified, and all but two presented with advanced stage disease.
- Median survival for the entire cohort was 38 months.
- Median survival was 46 months for optimally debulked patients and 27 months for suboptimally debulked patients.
- In the cisplatin and ifosfamide group, median progression-free interval was 13 months and median survival was 51 months.
- In the carboplatin and taxol group, median progression-free interval was 6 months and median survival was 38 months.
- The difference in survival between the two chemotherapy groups was not statistically significant (P=0.48).
Limitations: Retrospective single-institution review; Small sample size; No randomized control group; Non-comparative treatment groups with likely selection bias; Rare cancer with limited generalizability; Survival differences were not statistically significant.
This is an observational outcomes study in ovarian carcinosarcoma evaluating surgery and chemotherapy regimens.
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed
ReviewReported positiveLimited evidenceTier 4 · clinical
International journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society · Mar 2007
This review summarizes current management of ovarian carcinosarcoma, an uncommon malignancy with poor prognosis. The authors state that these tumors are generally sensitive to platinum-based chemotherapy and report encouraging results with platinum-ifosfamide and platinum-taxane schedules. They note some patients with poor performance status may only be eligible for single-agent platinum or ifosfamide or occasionally nonplatinum combinations, and that aggressive cytoreductive surgery appears to improve outcome but has higher complication rates and should be done by experienced surgeons.
Studied with: platinum-ifosfamide, platinum-taxane, ifosfamide plus paclitaxel.
Key findings
- Ovarian carcinosarcomas are uncommon malignancies that carry a poor prognosis.
- Presentation is usually indistinguishable from epithelial ovarian cancer.
- There is evidence that ovarian carcinosarcomas are sensitive to platinum-based chemotherapy.
- Recent studies have shown encouraging results with platinum-ifosfamide and platinum-taxane schedules, which are usually considered the treatment of choice.
- Many patients present with poor performance status and may be unsuitable for combination chemotherapy but may benefit from single-agent platinum or ifosfamide or occasionally nonplatinum schedules such as ifosfamide plus paclitaxel.
- Aggressive cytoreductive surgery appears to have a positive impact on outcome but has been associated with higher rates of complication and should be attempted by experienced gynecological surgeons in centers with expertise.
Limitations: Ovarian carcinosarcoma is a low-frequency disease, which has made prospective trials difficult to perform (as stated in the abstract).; Many patients present with poor performance status, limiting the applicability of combination chemotherapy for some individuals.; Aggressive cytoreductive surgery is associated with higher complication rates (limiting generalizability and increasing procedural risk).; This article is a review and does not report primary new trial data in the abstract..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed
Evidence at a glance: Ifosfamide by cancer
A deterministic grade of what published studies report for each: strength of evidence, the reported direction, and the largest credible effect, strongest-evidence first. This summarizes findings; it is not a claim that anything works.
Sarcoma○Insufficient evidence◆Mixed results
No primary experimental studies yet.
Most authoritative study: Management of advanced uterine leiomyosarcoma
No human studies yet · No numeric effect sizes reported · Based on a single study.
Soft tissue sarcoma○Insufficient evidence◆Mixed results
No primary experimental studies yet.
Most authoritative study: Management of advanced uterine leiomyosarcoma
No human studies yet · No numeric effect sizes reported · Based on a single study.
Uterine neoplasms○Insufficient evidence◆Mixed results
No primary experimental studies yet.
Most authoritative study: Management of advanced uterine leiomyosarcoma
No human studies yet · No numeric effect sizes reported · Based on a single study.
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