The role of perioperative chemotherapy in primary high-grade extremity soft tissue sarcoma: a risk-stratified analysis using PERSARC

Extremity and Truncal Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Risk Assessment and Multidisciplinary Management

Extremity and truncal soft tissue sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of rare cancers that arise from mesenchymal tissues. Hence, the adoption of tailored risk assessment and prognostication tools plays a crucial role in optimizing the decision-making for which of the many possible treatment strategies to select. Management of these tumors requires a multidisciplinary strategy, which has seen significant development in recent decades. Surgery has emerged as the primary treatment approach, with the main goal of achieving microscopic negative tumor margins. To reduce the likelihood of local recurrence, loco-regional treatments such as radiation therapy and isolated limb perfusion are often added to the treatment regimen in combination with surgery. This approach also enables surgeons to perform limb-sparing surgery, particularly in cases where a positive tumor margin is expected. Chemotherapy may also provide a further benefit in decreasing the probability of local recurrence or reducing distant metastasis in selected patients. Selecting the optimal treatment strategy for these rare tumors is best accomplished by an experienced multi-disciplinary team.

Survival after resection of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: Introducing and validating a novel type-specific prognostic model

Background

This study aimed to assess the performance of currently available risk calculators in a cohort of patients with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) and to create an MPNST-specific prognostic model including type-specific predictors for overall survival (OS).

Methods

This is a retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients with MPNST from 11 secondary or tertiary centers in The Netherlands, Italy and the United States of America. All patients diagnosed with primary MPNST who underwent macroscopically complete surgical resection from 2000 to 2019 were included in this study. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model for OS was estimated with prespecified predictors (age, grade, size, NF-1 status, triton status, depth, tumor location, and surgical margin). Model performance was assessed for the Sarculator and PERSARC calculators by examining discrimination (C-index) and calibration (calibration plots and observed-expected statistic; O/E-statistic). Internal-external cross-validation by different regions was performed to evaluate the generalizability of the model.

Results

A total of 507 patients with primary MPNSTs were included from 11 centers in 7 regions. During follow-up (median 8.7 years), 211 patients died. The C-index was 0.60 (95% CI 0.53-0.67) for both Sarculator and PERSARC. The MPNST-specific model had a pooled C-index of 0.69 (95%CI 0.65-0.73) at validation, with adequate discrimination and calibration across regions.

Conclusions

The MPNST-specific MONACO model can be used to predict 3-, 5-, and 10-year OS in patients with primary MPNST who underwent macroscopically complete surgical resection. Further validation may refine the model to inform patients and physicians on prognosis and support them in shared decision-making.

Emerging innovations and advancements in the treatment of extremity and truncal soft tissue sarcomas

In this special edition update on soft tissue sarcomas (STS), we cover classifications, emerging technologies, prognostic tools, radiation schemas, and treatment disparities in extremity and truncal STS. We discuss the importance of enhancing local control and reducing complications, including the role of innovative imaging, surgical guidance, and hypofractionated radiation. We review advancements in systemic and immunotherapeutic treatments and introduce disparities seen in this vulnerable population that must be considered to improve overall patient care.

The proteomic landscape of soft tissue sarcomas

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare and diverse mesenchymal cancers with limited treatment options. Here we undertake comprehensive proteomic profiling of tumour specimens from 321 STS patients representing 11 histological subtypes. Within leiomyosarcomas, we identify three proteomic subtypes with distinct myogenesis and immune features, anatomical site distribution and survival outcomes. Characterisation of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas and dedifferentiated liposarcomas with low infiltrating CD3 + T-lymphocyte levels nominates the complement cascade as a candidate immunotherapeutic target. Comparative analysis of proteomic and transcriptomic profiles highlights the proteomic-specific features for optimal risk stratification in angiosarcomas. Finally, we define functional signatures termed Sarcoma Proteomic Modules which transcend histological subtype classification and show that a vesicle transport protein signature is an independent prognostic factor for distant metastasis. Our study highlights the utility of proteomics for identifying molecular subgroups with implications for risk stratification and therapy selection and provides a rich resource for future sarcoma research.

Giant retroperitoneal liposarcoma measuring 27 × 29 × 36 cm: a case report

Retroperitoneal tumors are rare neoplasms that can reach great dimensions due to a slow growth pattern. Although these tumors rarely metastasize, they have a great risk of recurrence, and majority of times these lesions are a challenge for the surgeon. We report the case of a 63-year-old woman who presented with symptoms of large bowel obstruction and was diagnosed with a large heterogenous mass located in the retroperitoneal space. The fine needle biopsy revealed the histology of liposarcoma. The purpose of this article is to report our approach in management of this kind of tumor. Tumor size (27.1 × 29.1 × 36.1 cm) and involvement to the adjacent organs was a challenge for us in order to reach safe oncological margins. In these cases, the risk of recurrence is high; therefore, the patient should be screened at 6, 12 and 24 months post procedure. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy for this tumor is not yet defined, and if operable, surgery is the treatment of choice.

Prediction tools for the personalized management of soft-tissue sarcomas of the extremity

Prediction tools are instruments which are commonly used to estimate the prognosis in oncology and facilitate clinical decision-making in a more personalized manner. Their popularity is shown by the increasing numbers of prediction tools, which have been described in the medical literature. Many of these tools have been shown to be useful in the field of soft-tissue sarcoma of the extremities (eSTS). In this annotation, we aim to provide an overview of the available prediction tools for eSTS, provide an approach for clinicians to evaluate the performance and usefulness of the available tools for their own patients, and discuss their possible applications in the management of patients with an eSTS.Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(9):1011-1016.

The role of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in the management of localized high-grade soft tissue sarcoma

BACKGROUND

Standard treatment of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of the extremities includes limb-sparing surgery combined with pre- or postoperative radiotherapy (RT). The role of perioperative chemotherapy (CTX) remains uncertain. STS patients with high-risk features for local recurrence, distant metastases, and increased mortality may require additional systemic therapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate predictors of outcome regarding local control (LC), overall survival (OS), and freedom from distant metastases (FFDM) in a large single-center cohort of patients suffering from localized high-grade STS (grade 2/3, G2/G3). Special emphasis was put on a subgroup of patients who received combined neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT).

METHODS

Overall, 115 adult STS patients were included in this retrospective study. The median follow-up was 34 months. Twenty-three patients (20.0%) were treated with neoadjuvant RCT, 92 (80.0%) received other therapies (adjuvant RT alone (n = 58); neoadjuvant CTX + adjuvant RT (n = 17); adjuvant RCT (n = 10), neoadjuvant RT alone (n = 7)). To assess potential prognostic factors on LC, OS, and FFDM, univariate (UVA) and multivariable (MVA) Cox proportional hazards models were applied.

RESULTS

UVA showed significantly better LC rates in the neoadjuvant RCT group (p = 0.025), with trends in MVA (p = 0.057). The 3-year LC rate was 89.7% in the neoadjuvant RCT group vs. 75.6% in the "other therapies" group. UVA also showed significantly better OS rates in the neoadjuvant RCT group (p = 0.049), however, this was not confirmed in MVA (p = 0.205), the 3-year OS rate was 85.8% for patients treated with neoadjuvant RCT compared to 73.5% in the "other therapies" group. UVA showed significantly better FFDM rates in (p = 0.018) and a trend towards better FFDM rates in MVA (p = 0.059). The 3-year FFDM rate was 89.7% for patients treated with neoadjuvant RCT compared to 65.9% in the "other therapies" group. In the subgroup of patients with G3 STS, neoadjuvant RCT was a significant positive predictor of LC and FFDM in MVA (p = 0.047, p = 0.027) but not for OS. Overall grade 3 and 4 toxicities were significantly higher (p = 0.019) in the neoadjuvant RCT group and occurred in 73.9% vs. 38.0% in patients receiving other therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that neoadjuvant RCT might improve LC and FFDM in patients with localized G3 STS while also being associated with increased acute complication rates. Further prospective research is warranted to confirm these findings.

Real-world evidence on perioperative chemotherapy in localized soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and trunk wall; a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Data from the real-world setting on perioperative chemotherapy in high-risk, localized soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is limited. Real-world data (RWD) includes data derived from patients treated outside clinical trials and often captures long-term follow-up not recorded in clinical trials. The aim of this study was to provide population-based, real-world evidence on perioperative chemotherapy in localized STS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Adult patients with localized STS in the extremities or trunk wall treated at Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway from 1998 to 2017 were included in the study. Data were extracted from a prospectively maintained database, supplemented by retrospective review of medical records.

RESULTS

The total study cohort included 806 patients, of whom 154 (19%) received perioperative chemotherapy. A regimen with anthracycline and ifosfamide was given in 141 of 154 cases (92%). During long-term follow-up two patients developed secondary malignancies, cardiac toxicity was registered in 11 patients (7%) and renal toxicity in 12 patients (8%). Seventy-one of 154 patients (46%) were treated outside of clinical trials and constituted the RWD cohort. The median age at surgery was slightly lower and there were more synovial sarcomas and fewer myxofibrosarcomas in the RWD cohort. No difference in chemotherapy dose intensity was observed. The estimated 5-year metastasis-free survival (MFS) in all patients receiving perioperative chemotherapy was 58%. In the RWD cohort 5-year MFS was 53% and in the clinical study cohort 61% (HR 1.24; 95% CI 0.77-2.00).

CONCLUSION

Long-term outcome after perioperative chemotherapy was comparable for patients treated in routine clinical practice to those in clinical trials. Secondary malignancy and cardiac toxicity were observed. The risk of serious late side effects should be included in the decision process on perioperative chemotherapy.