Impact of histological subtype on radiological and pathological response after neoadjuvant radiotherapy in soft tissue sarcoma

BackgroundEvaluation of response to neoadjuvant radiotherapy (NART) does not consider soft tissue sarcoma (STS) heterogeneity. We aimed to investigate radiological and pathological response of 4 major histotypes.MethodsExtremity or trunk STS patients who received 50 Gy NART between 2009 and 2020 were retrospectively included. Relative variation in tumor size (RVTS) and pathological response were reported in the overall population and in undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS), myxofibrosarcoma (MFS), myxoid liposarcoma (MLS) and synovial sarcoma (SS) patients to identify response modalities of each histotype.ResultsAmong the 121 included patients, 49, 19, 13 and 11 presented UPS, MFS, MLS and SS. Median RVTS were 0% (IQR -18-+18), +8% (IQR 0-+24), −12% (IQR -20–3) and −11% (IQR -15–9), respectively (p = 0.001). Median viable cells were 10%, 60%, 20% and 70% (p = 0.007). In overall population, pathological complete response and median necrosis were 27.7% and 10% without significant correlation to histotype (p = 0.18 and 0.06). Nineteen (38.8%) UPS specimens presented cysts that were emptied during the sampling process and distorted the microscopic response evaluation. Infiltrative growth pattern was observed in 28% and 38.9% UPS and MFS patients. Five (38.5%) MLS presented mature adipocytes without proven prognostic value. Cysts were observed in 36% of SS specimens. In the absence of initial tumor limits, the great viable cellularity of SS may be overestimated by their nodular aspect.ConclusionAfter NART, we highlighted disparate response of UPS, frequent progression of MFS, and confirmed MLS and SS radiosensitivity. Response must be interpreted with caution and consider the histotype-specific patterns.     

Long-term survival of patients with recurrent endometrial stromal sarcoma: a multicenter,observational study

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical behavior and management outcome of recurrent endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS).MethodsA retrospective review of charts of 10 patients with recurrent ESS was performed and relapse-free interval, relapse site, treatment, response to treatment, duration of follow-up and clinical outcome extracted. Survival outcome measures used were post-relapse survival which was defined as the time from first evidence of relapse to death from any cause. Living patients were censored at the date of last follow-up.ResultsThe median age and median relapse-free interval at the time of initial relapse were 51.5 years and 66.5 months, respectively. The number of relapses ranged from one to five. Sixteen surgical procedures for recurrent disease included nine (56.0%) complete resections. There was no statistically significant difference between initial recurrent tumors and second/subsequent recurrent tumors in the rate of complete surgery (44.4% vs. 71.4%, respectively, p=0.36). Of the eleven evaluable occasions when hormonal therapy was used for recurrent disease, disease control was achieved in eight (72.7%). There was no difference between initial recurrent tumors and second/subsequent recurrent tumors in disease control rate by hormonal therapy (85.7% vs. 50.0%, respectively, p=0.49). The 10-year post-relapse survival rate was 90.0% and the overall median post-relapse survival 119 months (range, 7 to 216 months).ConclusionPost-relapse survival of patients with ESS can be expected to be >10 years when treated by repeated surgical resection and hormonal therapy or both.     

Improved diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue sarcoma patients after implementation of national guidelines: A population-based study

Aim

The majority of clinicians, radiologists and pathologists have limited experience with soft tissue sarcomas. In 2004, national guidelines were established in The Netherlands to improve the quality of diagnosis and treatment of these rare tumours. This study evaluates the compliance with the guidelines over time.

Patients

Population-based series of 119 operated patients with a soft tissue sarcoma (STS) diagnosed in 1998–1999 (79 before implementation of new guidelines) and in 2006 (40 after implementation).

Methods

Coded information regarding patient and tumour characteristics as well as (the results of) pathology review was collected from the medical patient file by two experienced data-managers.

Results

Diagnostic imaging of the tumour was performed according to the guidelines in 75–100% depending on the site of the tumour (abdominal versus non-abdominal) as well as the time of diagnosis.Adherence to the guidelines with respect to invasive diagnostic procedures in patients with non-abdominal STS improved over time. A pre-operative histological diagnosis was obtained in 42% of the patients in 1998–1999 and in 72% of the patients in 2006 (p < 0.001). The guidelines for reporting on pathology were increasingly adhered to. In 2006, (nearly) all pathology reports mentioned tumour size, morphology, tumour grade, resection margins and radicality. This represents a major improvement compared to the pathology reports in 1998–1999, where these aspects were not mentioned in 14–40% of the cases. The proportion of prospective pathology reviews by (a member of) the expert panel increased from 60% in 1998–1999 to 90% in 2006 (p = 0.001).

Discussion

The compliance with the guidelines has been optimised by the increased attention to this group of patients. Most important factors have been the reporting of the results of the first evaluation and (discussions about) the centralisation of treatment. Further improvements could be reached by the prospective web based registry monitoring logistic aspects as well as parameters useful for the evaluation of the quality of care.     

Breast radiologic complete response is associated with favorable survival outcomes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine the accuracy of radiologic complete response (rCR) in predicting pathologic complete response (pCR), and determine whether rCR is a predictor of favorable survival outcomes.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery from September 2007 to June 2016. Breast lesions and axillary nodes were measured by MRI and categorized into either disappeared (breast rCR) or residual disease (breast non-rCR) and either normalized (axillary rCR) or abnormal findings (axillary non-rCR) in the axillary nodes. Correlation between rCR and pCR were compared using Cohen’s Kappa statistics, and the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method.ResultsOut of the 1017 eligible patients, 287 (28.2%) achieved breast pCR, 165 (16.2%) achieved breast rCR, 529 (52.0%) had axillary pCR, and 274 (26.9%) achieved axillary rCR. The correlation between a breast rCR and pCR showed a Cohen’s Kappa value of 0.459, and between axillary rCR and pCR, the value was 0.384. During a median follow-up time of 48.0 months, the 5-year RFS rates were 90.6% for breast rCR, and 69.2% for breast non-rCR. The 5-year RFS rates were 82.3% for axillary rCR, and 68.8% for axillary non-rCR. Patients without breast rCR had a 2.4-fold significant increase in the risk of recurrence (p = 0.004) compared to patients with breast rCR.ConclusionAlthough rCR correlated with pCR by only moderate to fair degrees, breast rCR was a strong predictor for a favorable RFS outcome.     

乳腺癌新辅助全身治疗后病理完全缓解的预测因子：一项单中心回顾性研究

目的探讨乳腺癌患者新辅助全身治疗(NST)后病理完全缓解(pCR)的预测因子。 方法回顾性分析2016年1月1日至2021年3月1日在陆军军医大学大坪医院行空芯针穿刺活组织检查诊断为乳腺浸润性癌,并且接受NST后行手术切除的516例患者临床病理资料,包括患者年龄、月经状态、临床分期、NST方案及周期、组织学类型、组织学分级、ER表达、PR表达、HER-2表达、Ki-67表达、分子分型及术后Miller-Payne(MP)病理评级(G1、G2、G3、G4、G5)。pCR被定义为G5并且区域淋巴结阴性。采用Kruskal-Wallis H检验分析不同临床病理特征组间MP病理评级,采用χ²检验分析不同临床病理特征组间pCR率的差异。采用单因素和逐步向前Logistic回归模型分析pCR的独立预测因素。 结果(1)MP病理评级：G4~G5(病理缓解组)123例(23.8%),G1~G3(病理未缓解组)393例(76.2%)。患者临床分期、ER表达、PR表达、HER-2表达、Ki-67表达、分子分型、NST方案、NST周期均与MP评级有关(χ²＝13.572、19.687、18.963、17.989、15.493、27.605、31.622、10.103,P均<0.050)。pCR 59例(11.4%),非pCR 457例(88.6%)。患者月经状态、组织学分级、ER表达、PR表达、HER-2表达、Ki-67表达、分子分型、NST方案、NST周期均与pCR有关(χ²＝3.898、9.854、30.593、17.582、20.611、9.303、33.286、34.546、13.846,P均<0.050)。(2)各分子分型间病理缓解率的差异有统计学意义(χ²＝42.117,P<0.001)。(3)多因素Logistic回归分析显示：绝经前患者、临床Ⅲ~Ⅳ期、组织学分级为3级、NST方案含有靶向药物、HER-2阳性型和basal-like型是pCR率增高的独立预测因素(OR＝0.475, 95%CI：0.256~0.881, P＝0.018;OR＝0.487, 95%CI: 0.238~0.998, P＝0.049;OR＝2.108, 95%CI: 1.073~4.141, P＝0.030;OR＝5.576, 95%CI: 1.958~15.874, P＝0.001;OR＝10.128, 95%CI: 1.076~95.312, P＝0.043;OR＝18.497, 95%CI: 2.254~151.815, P＝0.007)。(4)临床Ⅲ~Ⅳ期、NST方案含有靶向药物、NST周期≥5个周期、luminal B(HER-2阴性)型、luminal B(HER-2阳性)型、HER-2阳性型和basal-like型是病理缓解率增高的独立预测因素(OR＝0.436, 95%CI：0.258~0.738, P＝0.002;OR＝2.305, 95%CI：1.109~4.792, P＝0.025;OR＝2.718, 95%CI: 1.121~6.588, P＝0.027;OR＝6.764, 95%CI: 1.950~23.463, P＝0.003;OR＝8.094, 95%CI：2.048~31.989, P＝0.003;OR＝12.125, 95%CI: 3.097~47.460, P<0.001;OR＝17.182, 95%CI: 4.874~60.577, P<0.001)。 结论luminal B(HER-2阳性)型、HER-2阳性型及basal-like型(较之于luminal A型)、临床分期早、组织学分级高、ER和PR阴性、HER2阳性、Ki-67高表达、NST周期≥5个及采用了靶向治疗的患者具有较高的pCR率;而月经状态、临床分期、组织学分级、分子分型及NST方案是pCR的独立预测因子。     

Complete pathological response after chemotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors in deficient MMR metastatic colorectal cancer: Results of a retrospective multicenter study

About 5% of the patients with metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRC) present microsatellite instability (MSI)/deficient mismatch repair system (dMMR). While metastasectomy is known to improve overall and progression-free survival in mCRC, specific results in selected patients with dMMR/MSI mCRC are lacking. Our study aimed to describe metastasectomy results, characterize histological response and evaluate pathological complete response (pCR) rate in patients with dMMR/MSI mCRC. We retrospectively reviewed data from all consecutive patients with dMMR/MSI mCRC who underwent surgical metastasectomy between January 2010 and June 2021 in 17 French centers. Primary outcome was to assess the pCR rate defined by tumor regression grade (TRG) 0. Secondary endpoints included relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), and explored TRG as predictive factor for RFS and OS. Among the 88 patients operated, 109 metastasectomies were performed in 81 patients after neoadjuvant treatment [chemotherapy ± targeted therapy (CTT): 69, 85.2%; immunotherapy (ICI): 12, 14.8%], and pCR was achieved in 13 (16.1%) patients. Among the latter, pCR rate were 10.2% in the patients having received CTT (N = 7) and 50.0% in the patients treated with ICI (N = 6). Radiological response did not predict TRG. With a median follow-up of 57.9 (IQR 34.2-81.6) months, median RFS was 20.2 (15.4-not reached) months, median OS was not reached. Major pathological responses (TRG0 + TRG1) were significantly associated with longer RFS (HR 0.12, 95% CI 0.03-0.55; P = .006). The pCR rate of 16.1% achieved with neoadjuvant treatment in patients with dMMR/MSI mCRC is consistent with previously reported rates in pMMR/MSS mCRC. Immunotherapy showed better pCR rate than chemotherapy ± targeted therapy. Further prospective trials are needed to validate immunotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment in resectable/potentially resectable dMMR/MSI mCRC and identify predictive factors for pCR.     

Histopathological tumor response following neoadjuvant hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion in extremity soft tissue sarcomas: Evaluation of the EORTC-STBSG response score

Introduction

This study aims to evaluate the applicability and prognostic value of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group (EORTC-STBSG) histopathological response score in extremity soft tissue sarcoma (ESTS) patients treated with neoadjuvant hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (HILP) and delayed surgical resection.

Clinical and pathological predictors of recurrence in breast cancer patients achieving pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

IntroductionDespite the excellent prognosis associated with pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), some patients still develop recurrence. Here, we investigated the outcomes of breast cancer patients with pCR, as well as the clinical and pathological predictors of cancer recurrence in these patients.Materials and methodsOf the 1599 breast cancer patients treated with NAC, we evaluated 394 patients who achieved pCR between January 2007 and December 2016. pCR was defined as no evidence of invasive cancer in breast. Residual in situ ductal and axillary lymph node diseases were not considered. We analyzed the outcomes using the Kaplan–Meier method. We assessed the association of clinical and pathological predictors with cancer recurrence using the cox proportional hazards regression model.ResultsThe median follow-up time was 63 months. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 92.3%. Cancer recurrence was observed in 28 patients (7.1%): local recurrence 8 patients (2.0%), visceral metastasis 10 patients (2.5%), and brain metastasis 10 patients (2.5%). Brain metastases were found in patients with HER2 type breast cancer. The significant predictors of cancer recurrence were HER2 positivity (p = 0.04), clinical tumor size (p < 0.01), and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.01) before NAC on univariate analysis and only lymph node metastasis on multivariate analysis.ConclusionPatients achieving pCR to NAC showed excellent outcomes. Advanced clinical stage, large tumor size, presence of lymph node metastasis, and HER2 positivity before NAC were identified as significant predictors of cancer recurrence. Residual in situ ductal and lymph node diseases after NAC were not significant predictors.     

The oncological outcomes of isolated limb perfusion and neo-adjuvant radiotherapy in soft tissue sarcoma patients - A nationwide multicenter study

IntroductionPatients with locally extensive high-grade extremity soft tissue sarcomas (eSTS) are often presented in multidisciplinary teams to decide between ablative surgery (amputation) or limb-salvage surgery supplemented with either neo-adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) or induction isolated limb perfusion (ILP).In The Netherlands, ILP typically aims to reduce the size of tumors that would otherwise be considered irresectable, whereas neo-adjuvant RT aims mainly at improving local control and reducing morbidity of required marginal margins.This study presents a 15-year nationwide cohort to describe the oncological outcomes of both pre-operative treatment strategies.MethodsAll consecutive patients with locally extensive primary high-grade eSTS surgically treated between 2000 and 2015 at five tertiary sarcoma centers that received neo-adjuvant ILP or RT were included. 169 patients met the inclusion criteria (89 ILP, 80 RT). Median follow-up was 7.3 years.ResultsLimb salvage was achieved in 84% of cases in the ILP group (80% for patients with amputation indication) and 96% of cases in the RT group. 5-Year overall survival was 47% in the ILP group, 69% in the RT group. 5-Year local recurrence rate was 14% in the ILP group, 10% in the RT group. Distant metastasis rate was 55% in the ILP group, 36% in the RT group.ConclusionWe find oncological outcomes and limb salvage rates in line with existing literature for both treatment modalities. Whether the tumor was locally advanced with an indication for induction therapy to prevent amputation or morbid surgery appeared to be the main determinant in choosing between neo-adjuvant ILP or RT.     

Trabectedin in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma: A retrospective national analysis of the French Sarcoma Group

AimThe French Sarcoma Group performed this retrospective analysis of the ‘RetrospectYon’ database with data of patients with recurrent advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) treated with trabectedin 1.5 mg/m² as a 24-h infusion every three weeks.MethodsPatients who achieved non-progressive disease after six initial cycles could receive long-term trabectedin treatment until disease progression.ResultsOverall, 885 patients from 25 French centres were included. Patients received a median of four trabectedin cycles (range: 1–28). The objective response rate was 17% (six complete/127 partial responses) and 50% (n = 403) of patients had stable disease for a disease control rate of 67%. After a median follow-up of 22.0 months, median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 4.4 and 12.2 months, respectively. After six cycles, 227/304 patients with non-progressive disease received trabectedin until disease progression and obtained a significantly superior median PFS (11.7 versus 7.6 months, P < 0.003) and OS (24.9 versus 16.9 months, P < 0.001) compared with those who stopped trabectedin treatment. Deaths and unscheduled hospitalisation attributed to drug-related events occurred in 0.5% and 9.4% of patients, respectively.ConclusionThe results of this real-life study demonstrate that treatment with trabectedin of patients with STS yielded comparable or improved efficacy outcomes versus those observed in clinical trials. A long-term treatment with trabectedin given until disease progression is associated with significantly improved PFS and OS.     

Nerve tolerance to high-dose-rate brachytherapy in patients with soft tissue sarcoma: a retrospective study

Background  

Brachytherapy, interstitial tumor bed irradiation, following conservative surgery has been shown to provide excellent local control and limb preservation in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STS), whereas little is known about the tolerance of peripheral nerves to brachytherapy. In particular, nerve tolerance to high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy has never been properly evaluated. In this study, we examined the efficacy and radiation neurotoxicity of HDR brachytherapy in patients with STS in contact with neurovascular structures.     

Comparison of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours and Choi criteria for response evaluation in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma treated with trabectedin: A retrospective analysis

BackgroundTo assess the additional value of density measurement using contrast-enhancement sequences (Choi assessment) in a real-life cohort of adult soft tissue sarcoma patients treated with trabectedin.MethodsEligibility criteria included adults (age ⩾18) treated between 01/2007 and 12/2011, with at least two trabectedin cycles after failure or intolerance to doxorubicin/ifosfamide. Baseline and first computed tomography (CT)-scans were centrally reviewed by an experienced radiologist.ResultsThe retrospective cohort consists of 134 (73 female) patients treated with trabectedin 1.5 mg/m² given as a 24-h infusion every 3 weeks. Patients received a median of five trabectedin cycles (range: 2–33) and the main cause of discontinuation was progressive disease (PD) (n = 105, 78.4%). Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) assessment was feasible in 128 (95.5%) patients, with Choi assessment performed in 92 (68.7%) patients, generally due to inadequate sequences or exclusive lung metastases. Concordance between both methods was fair (Kappa = 0.290). We identified five patients with false PD (i.e. PD according to RECIST but stable disease/partial response as per Choi). Univariate analysis did not identify any predictive factors for false PD. Median overall survival (OS) of patients with PD as per RECIST but stable disease/partial response (SD/PR) according to Choi was better than for patients with PD according to both RECIST and Choi (14 months versus 8 months; p = 0.052).ConclusionsChoi assessment may identify patients with false PD who achieved improved efficacy outcomes, suggesting that trabectedin may delay tumour progression even in the case of non-dimensional response. Dual size and tumour density assessment may be more suitable to evaluate responses to trabectedin in sarcoma patients as well as to improve the decision-making strategies for the continuation of trabectedin therapy.     

Surgery with curative intent is associated with prolonged survival in patients with cutaneous angiosarcoma of the scalp and face -a retrospective study of 38 untreated cases in the Japanese population

Background

In patients with cutaneous angiosarcoma of the scalp and face, the validity of surgery remains controversial, because of the potentially diffuse nature of involvement and difficulty in obtaining negative margins.

The number of lymph nodes examined is associated with survival outcomes and nodal upstaging in patients with stage I small cell lung cancer

Objective(s)Lymph node status is vital for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). We sought to evaluate the association between the number of lymph nodes examined (NLNE) and prognosis and nodal upstaging in stage I SCLC patients.MethodsWe queried the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database and our department for surgically treated patients with pathologic stage I SCLC to evaluate the correlation between NLNE and overall survival (OS). We further investigated the association between the NLNE and nodal upstaging in clinical stage I SCLC.ResultsA total of 878 patients with pathologic stage I SCLC were enrolled from the SEER database. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that removing more than 6 lymph nodes was associated with significantly improved OS. We validated the prognostic impact from examining more than 6 nodes in pathologic stage I SCLC patients from our department. Logistic regression analysis found that removing more than 6 nodes increased the odds of nodal upstaging for clinical stage I SCLC.ConclusionsAdequate nodal examination leads to survival benefits and accurate nodal staging. Our analysis indicated that examining more than 6 lymph nodes could confer better OS and predict nodal upstaging for stage I SCLC patients.     

Impact of surgery in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma: A monocentric retrospective analysis

Background and Objectives

The role of local surgical procedures in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma is still undefined. Few retrospective studies have reported survival benefits for patients with pulmonary metastases after complete surgical resection. Treatment decisions are therefore mainly based on personal experiences rather than on reproducible knowledge.

Method

A total of 237 patients with metastatic sarcoma, treated between 1982 and 2015 at the University Hospital Tuebingen, Germany, were eligible for inclusion. Out of the 237 screened patients, 102 patients underwent at least one metastasectomy. Overall survival was defined as the primary endpoint in this study. For association of non‐linear relationship to the endpoint, significant prognostic factors were included into a recursive partitioning model. A subgroup analysis for long‐term survivors was also performed.

Results

The median overall survival was 64 months. The 3‐, 5‐, 10‐, and 20‐years overall survival rates were 70.7%, 50.3%, 24.7%, and 14.8%, respectively. The number of resections and the progression‐free intervals were independent prognostic factors in three statistical models.

Conclusion

Repeated resections of metastases from different localizations are a strong predictor for prolonged survival. We suggest that the progression‐free interval after metastasectomy should be considered as a predictive factor for benefit from further surgery.     

Role of neoadjuvant treatment in clinical T2N0M0 oesophageal cancer: results from a retrospective multi-center European study

AimsThe aims of this study were to compare short- and long-term outcomes for clinical T2N0 oesophageal cancer with analysis of (i) primary surgery (S) versus neoadjuvant therapy plus surgery (NS), (ii) squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma subsets; and (iii) neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy.MethodsData were collected from 30 European centres from 2000 to 2010. Among 2944 included patients, 355 patients (12.1%) had cT2N0 disease; 285 (S) and 70 (NS), were compared in terms of short- and long-term outcomes. Propensity score matching analyses were used to compensate for differences in baseline characteristics.ResultsNo significant differences between the groups were shown in terms of in hospital morbidity and mortality. Nodal disease was observed in 50% of S-group at the time of surgery, with 20% pN2/N3. Utilisation of neoadjuvant therapy was associated with significant tumour downstaging as reflected by increases in pT0, pN0 and pTNM stage 0 disease, this effect was further enhanced with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. After adjustment on propensity score and confounding factors, for all patients and subset analysis of squamous cell and adenocarcinoma, neoadjuvant therapy had no significant effect upon survival or recurrence (overall, loco-regional, distant or mixed) compared to surgery alone. There were no significant differences between neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy in short- or long-term outcomes.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that a surgery alone treatment approach should be recommended as the primary treatment approach for cT2N0 oesophageal cancer despite 50% of patients having nodal disease at the time of surgery.     

Significance of local treatment in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma

Metastatic soft tissue sarcomas (STS) represent enormous challenges to improve the low survival rate, which is almost the same as past 2 decades ago, although surgery, radiotherapy and radiofrequency ablation has been accepted in the treatment of metastatic STS. Moreover, STS varies between elderly and younger victims in the aspect of diagnoses, prognosis, and treatment strategies. In order to evaluate the role of local treatment in improving prognosis for patients with metastatic STS and select the proper candidates who will benefit from local therapy, a single-institution nearly 50-year experience were collected and reviewed. Finally, we found that local treatments could improve treatment response and survival, but overall survival advantage could not be seen in elderly patients. This conclusion from a single institution could serve as a basis for future prospective multi-institutional large-scale studies.     

Histological response assessment following neoadjuvant isolated limb perfusion in patients with primary,localised, high-grade soft tissue sarcoma

Purpose: Histological response assessment following neoadjuvant treatment can help identify patients at a higher risk for systemic disease progression. Our goal was to evaluate whether mitotic count and the amount of viable tumour following neoadjuvant isolated limb perfusion (ILP) for primary, locally advanced, non-metastatic, high-grade extremity soft tissue sarcoma correlate with prognosis. Patients and methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of 61 patients who underwent neoadjuvant ILP followed by surgical resection with curative intent between 2001 and 2011. Non-parametric analyses were carried out with the Mann-Whitney U and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Survival curves were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. Results: The median follow-up was 44 months for all patients and 55 months for survivors. The amount of viable tumour after ILP had no correlation with overall (OS) (P?=?0.227) or event-free (EFS) (P?=?0.238) survival probability. Patients with a low mitotic count after ILP had a significantly higher OS (P?<?0.001), EFS (P?=?0.002) and post-relapse survival probability (P?=?0.030) compared to patients with an intermediate or high mitotic count. Conclusions: The mitotic count following ILP for primary, high-grade, locally advanced, non-metastatic soft tissue sarcoma appears to significantly correlate with prognosis. If these results are validated in a prospective setting, they could provide a rationale for the design of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy trials with the goal of improving the prognosis of patients with an intermediate or high mitotic count after ILP.     

Long-term outcome after local recurrence of soft tissue sarcoma: a retrospective analysis of factors predictive of survival in 135 patients with locally recurrent soft tissue sarcoma

Background:

The aim of this study was to identify prognostic indicators of survival in patients with locally recurrent soft tissue sarcoma (STS) through a long-term follow-up.

Methods:

We retrospectively assessed the relationship between post-recurrence survival (PRS) and potential prognostic factors in 135 patients who had experienced local recurrence, which was suitable for further surgical treatment. The median follow-up time after initial recurrence was 12.3 years (95% confidence interval (CI): 10.4–14.2 years).

Results:

The 5-year estimate of the PRS rate was 53.1% (95% CI: 44.3–61.2%) for the entire series. Patients with negative margins after the final surgery experienced improved survival compared with patients with positive margins (5-year survival: 46.7% (35.2–57.5%) vs 35.5% (23.4–47.8%); P=0.01). In a multivariate analysis, the significant prognostic indicators for PRS were histologic grade, tumour site, time to initial recurrence, the number of recurrences and the surgical margin status attained at the last resection.

Conclusions:

Complete surgical resection with microscopically clear margins is desirable in patients with locally recurrent STS. However, when achieving clear surgical margins will require major functional impairment of the extremity, a radical surgical approach should be weighed for the patient in each case.