Efficacy of Pegylated Lyposomal Anthracyclines and of Intra-Arterial Carboplatin and Doxorubicin Combined with Local Hyperthermia in a Case of Malignant Endovascular Papillary Angioendothelioma

Amedeo      Fiorillo; Gaetano      DeRosa; Francesca      Giugliano; M.   Laura   DeLillo; M.   Simona   Sabbatino; Antonella      Veneziano

Abstract

Malignant vascular tumors are exceedingly rare in childhood. Generally, their prognosis is dependent from a microscopically complete surgical resection. We observed the case of a 4-year-old boy affected by malignant endovascular papillary angioendothelioma, a rare vascular tumor of intermediate malignancy, involving all his left leg and partially the pelvis. Its very large size hampered any surgical intervention. However, we could demonstrate high sensitivity of the tumor to lyposomal anthracyclines and the child was eventually cured by the intra-arterial administration of carboplatin and doxorubicin coupled with local hyperthermia. This experience probably represents the first step toward an effective treatment of malignant vascular tumors in infancy.

Keywords: Childhood, vascular tumors, endovascular papillary angioendothelioma, pegylated anthracyclines, doxorubicin, carboplatin, intra-arterial administration, hyperthermia