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Mentrup F, Klein A, Lindner LH, Nachbichler S, Holzapfel BM, Albertsmeier M, Knösel T, Dürr HR. Refusal of Adjuvant Therapies and Its Impact on Local Control and Survival in Patients with Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas of the Extremities and Trunk. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:239. [PMID: 38254731 PMCID: PMC10814158 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In soft tissue or bone sarcomas, multimodal therapeutic concepts represent the standard of care. Some patients reject the therapeutic recommendations due to several reasons. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of that rejection on both prognosis and local recurrence. METHODS Between 2012 and 2019, a total of 828 sarcoma patients were surgically treated. Chemotherapy was scheduled as a neoadjuvant, and adjuvant multi-agent therapy was performed following recommendations from an interdisciplinary tumor board. Radiotherapy, if deemed appropriate, was administered either in a neoadjuvant or an adjuvant manner. The recommended type of therapy, patient compliance, and the reasons for refusal were documented. Follow-ups included local recurrences, diagnosis of metastatic disease, and patient mortality. RESULTS Radiotherapy was recommended in 407 (49%) patients. A total of 40 (10%) individuals did not receive radiation. A reduction in overall survival and local recurrence-free survival was evident in those patients who declined radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was advised for 334 (40%) patients, 250 (75%) of whom did receive all recommended cycles. A total of 25 (7%) individuals did receive a partial course while 59 (18%) did not receive any recommended chemotherapy. Overall survival and local recurrence-free survival were reduced in patients refusing chemotherapy. Overall survival was worst for the group of patients who received no chemotherapy due to medical reasons. Refusing chemotherapy for non-medical reasons was seen in 8.8% of patients, and refusal of radiotherapy for non-medical reasons was seen in 4.7% of patients. CONCLUSIONS Divergence from the advised treatment modalities significantly impacted overall survival and local recurrence-free survival across both treatment modalities. There is an imperative need for enhanced physician-patient communication. Reducing treatment times, as achieved with hypofractionated radiotherapy and with therapy in a high-volume sarcoma center, might also have a positive effect on complying with the treatment recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Mentrup
- Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedic Oncology, Musculoskeletal University Center Munich (MUM), LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany; (F.M.); (A.K.); (B.M.H.)
- SarKUM, Center of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany; (L.H.L.); (S.N.); (M.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Alexander Klein
- Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedic Oncology, Musculoskeletal University Center Munich (MUM), LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany; (F.M.); (A.K.); (B.M.H.)
- SarKUM, Center of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany; (L.H.L.); (S.N.); (M.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Lars Hartwin Lindner
- SarKUM, Center of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany; (L.H.L.); (S.N.); (M.A.); (T.K.)
- Department of Medicine III, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Silke Nachbichler
- SarKUM, Center of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany; (L.H.L.); (S.N.); (M.A.); (T.K.)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Boris Michael Holzapfel
- Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedic Oncology, Musculoskeletal University Center Munich (MUM), LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany; (F.M.); (A.K.); (B.M.H.)
- SarKUM, Center of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany; (L.H.L.); (S.N.); (M.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Markus Albertsmeier
- SarKUM, Center of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany; (L.H.L.); (S.N.); (M.A.); (T.K.)
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Thomas Knösel
- SarKUM, Center of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany; (L.H.L.); (S.N.); (M.A.); (T.K.)
- Institute of Pathology, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Hans Roland Dürr
- Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedic Oncology, Musculoskeletal University Center Munich (MUM), LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany; (F.M.); (A.K.); (B.M.H.)
- SarKUM, Center of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 München, Germany; (L.H.L.); (S.N.); (M.A.); (T.K.)
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