Alveolar soft-part sarcoma: a hormone-sensitive tumour?

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma is a rare, slow-growing, malignant tumour which metastasizes frequently to the lungs. Treatment with radiotherapy or chemotherapy is largely ineffective, and most patients die within 4 years of developing metastases. We report an unusual patient who survived 9 years after detection of pulmonary metastases. Initial treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy was ineffective. However, during subsequent treatment with Chinese herbs when she developed galactorrhoea and amenorrhoea (probably due to drug-induced hyperprolactinaemia), her lung metastases regressed, and it is likely that this contributed to her prolonged survival. We hypothesize that alveolar soft-part sarcoma may be a hormone-sensitive tumour, and hormonal manipulation may be an alternative form of treatment which is worth considering.