Prognostic relevance of distant metastases versus locally advanced disease in soft tissue sarcomas: An EORTC-STBSG database study

The Association of Metastasis Pattern and Management of Metastatic Disease with Oncological Outcomes in Patients with Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors: A Multicenter Cohort Study

Simple Summary

Around 40% of patients with MPNSTs develop distant metastasis (DM) within five years. Identification of MPNST patients more likely to develop DM and the identification of prognostic factors after DM diagnosis may guide clinical decision-making and may result in a better balance between quantity and quality of life. This study aimed to identify clinicopathologic and treatment-related factors associated with the development of DM and with overall survival (OS) after DM diagnosis. NF1, high grade, tumor size, triton and R2 resections were independent risk factors for the development of DM. This is the first study that reveals that NF1 status is also independently associated with worse survival after DM diagnosis with a median survival difference of more than 6 months between NF1 and no-NF1 patients.

Abstract

Purpose: This multicenter cohort study aimed to identify clinicopathologic and treatment-related factors associated with the development of distant metastasis (DM) and with overall survival (OS) after DM diagnosis in patients with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). Methods: All patients diagnosed with primary MPNST from 1988 to 2019 who were surgically treated for the primary tumor were included. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with DM and OS after DM diagnosis. Results: A total of 383 patients were included in this analysis, of which 150 developed metastatic disease. No differences in clinicopathologic characteristics and clinical outcome were found between patients with synchronous and metachronous DM. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), high grade, tumor size, triton and R2 resections were independent risk factors for the development of DM. NF1 and more than two metastasis sites were independently associated with worse OS after DM diagnosis. Metastasectomy, chemotherapy and the metastatic site category ‘other’ were associated with prolonged survival after DM diagnosis. Conclusions: This analysis provides important insights into clinicopathologic and treatment factors associated with outcomes in metastatic MPNST. Moreover, NF1-status is associated with a higher risk of DM; it is also independently associated with worse survival in metastatic MPNST.

Impact of sarcopenia in advanced and metastatic soft tissue sarcoma

Introduction

Advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (a/mSTS) is associated with a dismal prognosis. Patient counseling on treatment aggressiveness is pivotal to avoid over- or undertreatment. Recently, evaluation of body composition markers like the skeletal muscle index (SMI) became focus of interest in a variety of cancers. This study focuses on the prognostic impact of SMI in a/mSTS, retrospectively.

Methods

181 a/mSTS patients were identified, 89 were eligible due to prespecified criteria for SMI assessment. Baseline CT-Scans were analyzed using an institutional software solution. Sarcopenia defining cut-off values for the SMI were established by optimal fitting method. Primary end point was overall survival (OS) and secondary endpoints were progression free survival (PFS), disease control rate (DCR), overall response rate (ORR). Descriptive statistics as well as Kaplan Meier- and Cox regression analyses were administered.

Results

28/89 a/mSTS patients showed sarcopenia. Sarcopenic patients were significantly older, generally tended to receive less multimodal therapies (62 vs. 57 years, P = 0.025; respectively median 2.5 vs. 4, P = 0.132) and showed a significantly lower median OS (4 months [95%CI 1.9–6.0] vs. 16 months [95%CI 8.8–23.2], Log-rank P = 0.002). Sarcopenia was identified as independent prognostic parameter of impaired OS (HR 2.40 [95%-CI 1.4–4.0], P < 0.001). Moreover, DCR of first palliative medical treatment was superior in non-sarcopenic patients (49.2% vs. 25%, P = 0.032).

Conclusion

This study identifies sarcopenia as a prognostic parameter in a/mSTS. Further on, the data suggest that sarcopenia shows a trend of being associated with first line therapy response. SMI is a promising prognostic parameter, which needs further validation.

A Growth Modulation Index-Based GEISTRA Score as a New Prognostic Tool for Trabectedin Efficacy in Patients with Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A Spanish Group for Sarcoma Research (GEIS) Retrospective Study

Simple Summary

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are an uncommon and heterogeneous group of tumors, with scarce options for treatment in advanced cases. There is no consensus regarding which is the best treatment sequence for these patients. Although trabectedin is an approved drug for STS treatment, after progression to anthracyclines, the clinical profile of the patients that most benefit from this drug it is not defined. We have retrospectively analyzed a sample of 357 nonselected sarcoma patients from real-world experience, treated homogeneously with trabectedin, confirming and validating results from previous clinical trials and other retrospective studies. After analyzing clinical prognostic factors, we selected those which predicted a better growth modulation index (GMI > 1.33), and we defined the GEISTRA score, an easy to obtain and reproducible clinical tool, that can help us to optimize the use of trabectedin in advanced sarcoma patients.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify an easily reliable prognostic score that selects the subset of advanced soft tissue sarcoma (ASTS) patients with a higher benefit with trabectedin in terms of time to progression and overall survival. A retrospective series of 357 patients with ASTS treated with trabectedin as second- or further-line in 19 centers across Spain was analyzed. First, it was confirmed that patients with high growth modulation index (GMI > 1.33) were associated with the better clinical outcome. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with a GMI > 1.33. Thus, GEISTRA score was based on metastasis free-interval (MFI ≤ 9.7 months), Karnofsky < 80%, Non L-sarcomas and better response in the previous systemic line. The median GMI was 0.82 (0–69), with 198 patients (55%) with a GMI < 1, 41 (11.5%) with a GMI 1–1.33 and 118 (33.1%) with a GMI > 1.33. The lowest GEISTRA score showed a median of time-to-progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) of 5.7 and 19.5 months, respectively, whereas it was 1.8 and 3.1 months for TTP and OS, respectively, for the GEISTRA 4 score. This prognostic tool can contribute to better selecting candidates for trabectedin treatment in ASTS.

Prognosis of Patients with Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Advances in Recent Years

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the prognosis of patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and to define prognostic indicators for overall survival (OS).

METHODS

All patients who were treated at the Sarcoma Unit at the Mannheim University Medical Center between 2010 and 2016 and who developed metastatic disease deriving from a STS were included in this retrospective analysis. OS was investigated using data from clinical records and German registry offices. Clinical and pathological characteristics were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total number of 212 patients developed metastatic disease from STS during that period. Median OS after first documentation of metastatic disease was 24 months (95% CI 21-33). 1-, 2-, and 5-year OS rates were 70.0% (95% CI 64-77), 49.9% (95% CI 43-58), and 24.8% (95% CI 19-33), respectively. In multivariate analysis, significant predictors for mortality appeared to be gender, age, location and size of the primary tumor, histology, and disease-free interval.

CONCLUSION

Being treated in a high-volume STS reference center in Germany, patients with metastatic disease could demonstrate an increased OS compared to former analyses. These data can be used as a benchmark for upcoming studies and highlight that further research on treatment strategies in this rare disease is urgently needed.

Neoadjuvant radiation improves margin-negative resection rates in extremity sarcoma but not survival

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Radiation improves limb salvage in extremity sarcomas. Timing of radiation therapy remains under investigation. We sought to evaluate the effects of neoadjuvant radiation (NAR) on surgery and survival of patients with extremity sarcomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multi-institutional database was used to identify patients with extremity sarcomas undergoing surgical resection from 2000-2016. Patients were categorized by treatment strategy: surgery alone, adjuvant radiation (AR), or NAR. Survival, recurrence, limb salvage, and surgical margin status was analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 1483 patients were identified. Most patients receiving radiotherapy had high-grade tumors (82% NAR vs 81% AR vs 60% surgery; P < .001). The radiotherapy groups had more limb-sparing operations (98% AR vs 94% NAR vs 87% surgery; P < .001). NAR resulted in negative margin resections (90% NAR vs 79% surgery vs 75% AR; P < .0001). There were fewer local recurrences in the radiation groups (14% NAR vs 17% AR vs 27% surgery; P = .001). There was no difference in overall or recurrence-free survival between the three groups (OS, P = .132; RFS, P = .227).

CONCLUSION

In this large study, radiotherapy improved limb salvage rates and decreased local recurrences. Receipt of NAR achieves more margin-negative resections however this did not improve local recurrence or survival rates over.