Fatal rhabdomyolysis as a complication of ET-743 (Yondelis) chemotherapy for sarcoma

Rhabdomyolysis is a clinical syndrome in which skeletal muscle damage and necrosis leads to the release of intracellular muscle contents, which can ultimately lead to electrolyte disturbances, renal failure and even death. Chemotherapy is an extremely rare cause of rhabdomyolysis. Herein, we describe a fatal case of rhabdomyolysis in a patient with metastatic sarcoma after receiving the chemotherapeutic agent Ecteinascidin-743 (ET-743, trabectedin) as palliative chemotherapy treatment.