Trauma and sporadic desmoid tumor development: An approach toward real incidence and aspects of causality.

OBJECTIVES: The development of desmoid tumors (DT) is associated with trauma, which is an aspect with medicolegal relevance. The objective of this study was to analyze the proportion and type of trauma (surgical, blunt/fracture, implants), its lag time, and mutations of the CTNNB1 gene in patients with sporadic DT. METHODS: We analyzed a prospectively kept database of 381 females and 171 males, median age at disease onset 37.7 years (females) and 39.3 years (males) with a histologically confirmed DT. Patients with germline mutation of the APC gene were excluded. Details of the history particularly of traumatic injuries to the site of DT were provided by 501 patients. RESULTS: In 164 patients (32.7%), a trauma anteceding DT could be verified with a median lag time of 22.9 months (SD, 7.7 months; range, 9-44 months). A prior surgical procedure was relevant in 98 patients, a blunt trauma in 35 patients, a punctuated trauma (injections, trocar) in 18 patients, and site of an implant in 10 patients. In 220 patients, no trauma was reported (43.9%), and 58 females (11.6%) had a postpregnancy DT in the rectus abdominis muscle. In 42 patients (8.4%), data were inconclusive. The distribution of mutations in the CTNNB1 gene (codon 41 vs. 45) was similar in patients with and without a history of trauma before DT development. CONCLUSIONS: A significant subgroup of patients suffers from a trauma-associated DT, predominantly at a prior surgical site including implants to breast or groin, accounting for 77.9% of the cases, whereas blunt trauma was responsible in 22.1%. We found no data to support that trauma-associated DT have different molecular features in the CTNNB1 gene.

Ten recommendations for sarcoma surgery: consensus of the surgical societies based on the German S3 guideline "Adult Soft Tissue Sarcomas".

PURPOSE: The evidence-based (S3) guideline "Adult Soft Tissue Sarcomas" (AWMF Registry No. 032/044OL) published by the German Guideline Program in Oncology (GGPO) covers all aspects of sarcoma treatment with 229 recommendations. Representatives of all medical specialties involved in sarcoma treatment contributed to the guideline. This paper compiles the most important recommendations for surgeons selected by delegates from the surgical societies. METHODS: A Delphi process was used. Delegates from the surgical societies involved in guideline process selected the 15 recommendations that were most important to them. Votes for similar recommendations were tallied. From the resulting ranked list, the 10 most frequently voted recommendations were selected and confirmed by consensus in the next step. RESULTS: The statement "Resection of primary soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities should be performed as a wide resection. The goal is an R0 resection" was selected as the most important term. The next highest ranked recommendations were the need for a preoperative biopsy, performing preoperative MRI imaging with contrast, and discussing all cases before surgery in a multidisciplinary sarcoma committee. CONCLUSION: The evidence-based guideline "Adult Soft Tissue Sarcomas" is a milestone to improve the care of sarcoma patients in Germany. The selection of the top ten recommendations by surgeons for surgeons has the potential to improve the dissemination and acceptance of the guideline and thus improve the overall outcome of sarcoma patients.

[Fluorescence-guided Lymph Vessel Sealing in Systematic Nodal Dissection: a New Surgical Technique to Prevent Lymphorrhea and Lymphocele.] / Fluoreszenzgesteuerte Lymphgefäßversiegelung bei der systematischen Lymphknotendissektion zur Vermeidung von Lymphfisteln und Lymphozelen.

INTRODUCTION: The primary morbidities of inguinal and axillary systematic nodal dissection are lymphatic fistulas and seromas. Intraoperative fluorescence imaging-guided sealing of lymph vessels may prevent these postoperative complications. METHODS: Indocyanine dye was injected intracutaneously into the distal limb before the beginning of the lymphadenectomy. Systematic nodal dissection was performed according to standard protocols. Near-infrared imaging was applied throughout the procedure and real-time fluorescence-guided lymph vessel sealing was performed. RESULTS: Fluorescence-guided lymph vessel sealing was implemented in three patients undergoing axillary systematic lymph node dissection. No adverse events occurred following fluorescence dye injection. All patients could be discharged free of wound complications. CONCLUSION: Fluorescence-guided lymph vessel sealing might be a promising new technique for preventing lymphatic fistulas and lymphocele after systematic lymphadenectomy.

The association of Health-Related Quality of Life and 1-year-survival in sarcoma patients-results of a Nationwide Observational Study (PROSa).

BACKGROUND: Sarcomas are rare cancers of high heterogeneity. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a prognostic factor for survival in other cancer entities but it is unclear whether this applies to sarcoma patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: HRQoL was prospectively assessed in adult sarcoma patients from 2017 to 2020 in 39 German recruiting sites using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Vital status was ascertained over the course of 1 year. HRQoL domains were analysed by multivariable cox-regressions including clinical and socio-economic risk factors. RESULTS: Of 1102 patients, 126 (11.4%) died during follow-up. The hazard ratio (HR) for global health was 0.73 per 10-point increase (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64-0.85). HR for the HRQoL-summary score was 0.74 (CI 0.64-0.85) and for physical functioning 0.82 (CI 0.74-0.89). There was also evidence that fatigue (HR 1.17, CI 1.10-1.25), appetite loss (HR 1.15, CI 1.09-1.21) and pain (HR 1.14, CI 1.08-1.20) are prognostic factors for survival. CONCLUSION: Our study adds sarcoma-specific evidence to the existing data about cancer survival in general. Clinicians and care-givers should be aware of the relations between HRQoL and survival probability and include HRQoL in routine assessment.

Gene Expression in Solitary Fibrous Tumors (SFTs) Correlates with Anatomic Localization and NAB2-STAT6 Gene Fusion Variants.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) harbor recurrent NAB2-STAT6 gene fusions, promoting constitutional up-regulation of oncogenic early growth response 1 (EGR1)-dependent gene expression. SFTs with the most common canonical NAB2 exon 4-STAT6 exon 2 fusion variant are often located in the thorax (pleuropulmonary) and are less cellular with abundant collagen. In contrast, SFTs with NAB2 exon 6-STAT6 exon 16/17 fusion variants typically display a cellular round to ovoid cell morphology and are often located in the deep soft tissue of the retroperitoneum and intra-abdominal pelvic region or in the meninges. Here, we employed next-generation sequencing-based gene expression profiling to identify significant differences in gene expression associated with anatomic localization and NAB2-STAT6 gene fusion variants. SFTs with the NAB2 exon 4-STAT6 exon 2 fusion variant showed a transcriptional signature enriched for genes involved in DNA binding, gene transcription, and nuclear localization, whereas SFTs with the NAB2 exon 6-STAT6 exon 16/17 fusion variants were enriched for genes involved in tyrosine kinase signaling, cell proliferation, and cytoplasmic localization. Specific transcription factor binding motifs were enriched among differentially expressed genes in SFTs with different fusion variants, implicating co-transcription factors in the modification of chimeric NGFI-A binding protein 2 (NAB2)-STAT6-dependent deregulation of EGR1-dependent gene expression. In summary, this study establishes a potential molecular biologic basis for clinicopathologic differences in SFTs with distinct NAB2-STAT6 gene fusion variants.

Distress in soft-tissue sarcoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumours patients-Results of a German multicentre observational study (PROSa).

OBJECTIVE: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) are a group of rare malignant tumours with a high and heterogenous disease burden. As evidence is scarce, we analysed the prevalence of increased emotional distress and identified distress-associated factors in these patients. METHODS: The PROSa-study (Burden and medical care of sarcoma) was conducted between 2017 and 2020 in 39 study centres. Cross-sectional data from adult STS and GIST patients were analysed. Distress was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4). The relation of socioeconomic and clinical factors with distress was explored in adjusted logistic regression models. RESULTS: Among 897 patients, 17% reported elevated anxiety and 19% reported depression. Unemployed patients (odds ratio [OR] 6.6; 95% CI 2.9-15.0), and those with a disability pension (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.9-5.0) were more likely to experience distress compared to employed patients. Also, patients with a disability pass had higher odds of increased distress than those without (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.2-2.7). Lowest distress was observed in patients 2 to <5 years and ≥5 years after diagnosis (comparison: <6 months) (OR 0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.6) and (0.3; 95% CI 0.2-0.6). Patients with thoracic STS (vs. lower limbs) had twice the odds to experience distress (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1-3.6). Distress was seen almost twice as often in patients with progressive disease (vs. complete remission) (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.1-2.8). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of elevated distress in STS and GIST patients is high. In unemployed patients, in those with a disability pension and in newly diagnosed patients a noticeable increase was observed. Clinicians should be aware of these factors and consider the social aspects of the disease.

Needle tract seeding and abdominal recurrence following pre-treatment biopsy of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST): results of a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare abdominal tumors. Pretreatment biopsies may be used to diagnose a GIST and enable tailored treatment. Some experts are skeptical about biopsies because they fear tumor cell seeding. The objective of this study was to determine if pretreatment biopsy is associated with increased tumor recurrence. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search and included studies assessing the oncological outcome of GIST patients who underwent a pre-treatment core needle biopsy or fine needle aspiration. We assessed methodological quality with the Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale for non-randomized studies. This review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42021170290). RESULTS: Three non-randomized studies and eight case reports comprising 350 patients were eligible for inclusion. No prospective study designed to answer the review question was found. One case of needle tract seeding after percutaneous core needle biopsy of GIST was reported. None of the studies reported an increased rate of abdominal recurrence in patients with pretreatment biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: The existing evidence does not indicate a relevant risk of needle tract seeding or abdominal recurrence after pre-treatment biopsy of GIST. Biopsy can safely be done to differentiate GIST from other tumors and to select the most appropriate treatment.

Quality of life of GIST patients with and without current tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment: Cross-sectional results of a German multicentre observational study (PROSa).

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST). METHODS: In the multicentre PROSa study, the HRQoL of adult GIST patients was assessed between 2017 and 2019 using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer HRQoL questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). We performed group comparisons and multivariate linear regressions. RESULTS: Among 130 patients from 13 centres, the mean global HRQoL was 63.3 out of 100 points. Higher sores indicate better HRQoL. The highest restrictions were in emotional, social, role functioning, insomnia, fatigue, and pain. In multivariate linear regression, we found no significant differences between patients receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment and those without TKI treatment as well as between patients treated with curative or with palliative intent. Patients who received multiple lines of TKI treatment had the most restrictions, notably in physical (unstandardized regression coefficient [B] = -15.7), role (B = -25.7), social (B = -18.4), and cognitive functioning (B = -19.7); fatigue (B = 15.93); general health (B = -14.23); and EORTC-sum score (B = -13.82) compared to all other patients. CONCLUSION: The highest HRQoL restrictions were in GIST patients receiving multiple lines of TKI therapy. Underlying causes need further investigation.

Impact of preoperative treatment on the CINSARC prognostic signature: translational research results from a phase 1 trial of the German Interdisciplinary Sarcoma Group (GISG 03).

PURPOSE: CINSARC (Complexity INdex in SARComas) is a prognostic signature for soft tissue sarcoma that determines the risk for recurrence and may serve to guide the decision for adjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to compare the CINSARC signature of pre- and posttreatment biopsies of sarcoma patients treated within a phase I trial evaluating preoperative sunitinib and irradiation. METHODS: We retrieved 14 pairs of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks from pretreatment biopsies and posttreatment resection specimens and performed expression profiling of the 67 CINSARC signature genes. RESULTS: In 5/14 patients, both probes were unsuitable for expression analysis because there was no (vital) tissue left in biopsies or resection specimens. Comparing the CINSARC risk classification before and after treatment in the remaining patients, 2/9 shifted from a high- to a low-risk classification for metastatic disease after preoperative treatment with radiation therapy plus sunitinib and 7/9 pairs of pre- and posttreatment biopsies revealed identical results. CONCLUSION: Concurrent radiation therapy and sunitinib leads to diverging results of prognostic gene array testing in a relevant proportion of sarcoma patients. These changes may reflect tumor heterogeneity, local treatment effects, or prognostic changes of the disease. Caution is advised in the selection of samples and interpretation of test results.

Definition and severity grading of postoperative lymphatic leakage following inguinal lymph node dissection.

PURPOSE: Lymphatic complications occur frequently after radical inguinal lymph node dissection (RILND). The incidence of lymphatic leakage varies considerably among different studies due to the lack of a consistent definition. The aim of the present study is to propose a standardized definition and grading of different types of lymphatic leakage after groin dissection. METHODS: A bicentric retrospective analysis of 82 patients who had undergone RILND was conducted. A classification of postoperative lymphatic leakage was developed on the basis of the daily drainage output, any necessary postoperative interventions and reoperations, and any delay in adjuvant treatment. RESULTS: In the majority of cases, RILND was performed in patients with inguinal metastases of malignant melanoma (n = 71). Reinterventions were necessary in 15% of the patients and reoperations in 32%. A new classification of postoperative lymphatic leakage was developed. According to this definition, grade A lymphatic leakage (continued secretion of lymphatic fluid from the surgical drains without further complications) occurred in 13% of the patients, grade B lymphatic leakage (persistent drainage for more than 10 postoperative days or the occurrence of a seroma after the initial removal of the drain that requires an intervention) in 28%, and grade C lymphatic leakage (causing a reoperation or a subsequent conflict with medical measures) in 33%. The drainage volume on the second postoperative day was a suitable predictor for a complicated lymphatic leakage (grades B and C) with a cutoff of 110 ml. CONCLUSION: The proposed definition is clinically relevant, is easy to employ, and may serve as the definition of a standardized endpoint for the assessment of lymphatic morbidity after RILND in future studies.

Radiotherapy for retroperitoneal liposarcoma: A report from the Transatlantic Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Working Group.

BACKGROUND: The current study investigated the role of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with primary nonmetastatic retroperitoneal liposarcomas. METHODS: A total of 607 patients with localized retroperitoneal well-differentiated liposarcomas (WDLPS) and dedifferentiated liposarcomas (DDLPS) underwent surgical resection with or without RT at 8 high-volume sarcoma centers (234 patients with WDLPS, 242 patients with grade 1 to 2 DDLPS, and 131 patients with grade 3 DDLPS; grading was performed according to the National Federation of Centers for the Fight Against Cancer [Federation Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer; FNCLCC]). RT was administered in 19.7%, 34.7%, and 35.1%, respectively, of these 3 cohorts. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the incidences of local recurrence and distant metastasis (DM) were estimated in a competing risk framework. To account for bias consistent with nonrandom RT assignment, propensity scores were estimated. Cox univariable analysis of the association between RT and oncological endpoints was performed by applying inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) using propensity scores. RESULTS: Age, tumor size, and the administration of chemotherapy were found to be significantly imbalanced between patients who did and did not undergo RT in all cohorts. IPTW largely removed imbalances in key prognostic variables. Although the 8-year local recurrence incidences in patients treated with surgery plus RT versus surgery only were 11.8% and 39.2%, respectively, for patients with WDLPS (P = .011;); 29.0% and 56.7%, respectively, for patients with grade 1 to 2 DDLPS (P = .008); and 29.8% and 43.7%, respectively, for patients with grade 3 DDLPS (P = .025), this significant benefit was lost after IPTW analyses. There were no significant differences noted with regard to DM and OS between irradiated and unirradiated patients across all 3 cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative RT was found to be associated with better local control in univariable unadjusted analysis in all 3 cohorts, but not after accounting for imbalances in prognostic variables. RT did not impact on DM or OS. The appropriate selection of RT in this disease remains challenging. The results of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group (STBSG) 62092-22092 prospective randomized trial are awaited.

Preoperative Pazopanib in High-Risk Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Phase II Window-of Opportunity Study of the German Interdisciplinary Sarcoma Group (NOPASS/GISG-04).

BACKGROUND: Preoperative devascularization might improve local control and thus the outcome of patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS). The multikinase inhibitor pazopanib has antiangiogenic effects and is approved for treating metastatic STS. We conducted a trial of preoperative pazopanib therapy in high-risk STS. METHODS: This single-arm, phase II trial included patients with resectable, non-metastatic, treatment-naïve, high-risk STS. Patients received pazopanib 800 mg daily while waiting for surgery (21-day 'window of opportunity'). The primary endpoint was metabolic response rate (MRR; proportion of patients with ≥ 50% reduction of mean standardized uptake value [SUVmean] in post- vs. pretreatment fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography [FDG-PET-CT]). Planned sample size was 35 patients (type I error, 5%; type II error, 20%). A translational substudy explored associations between response and concentration of circulating angiogenic factors. RESULTS: Futility analysis was performed after 21 patients (11 female, mean age 67 years; liposarcoma n = 15); 17/21 patients were evaluable for the primary endpoint. The MRR was 1/17 (5.9%, 95% confidence interval < 0.01-0.29). Mean change in SUVmean of post- versus pretreatment PET was a 6% decrease (range 65% decrease to 34% increase); 7/21 (33.3%) patients had 12 grade 3/4 toxicities, and 19/21 (95.2%) patients were resected (all R0). One (4.8%) patient suffered a grade 4 postoperative complication (anastomotic leakage). Circulating endothelial progenitor cells, soluble vascular endothelial growth factor, and angiopoietin-2 concentrations showed no relevant changes during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although this study showed that preoperative pazopanib is not effective for unselected high-risk STS patients, relevant treatment effects were observed in a single patient. Future research needs to better define subgroups potentially benefiting from preoperative pazopanib treatment. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT01543802.

Tissue sealants for the prevention of lymphoceles after radical inguinal lymph node dissection in patients with melanoma: A systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Postoperative lymphoceles and further wound complications occur frequently after radical inguinal lymph node dissection (ILND). In various studies, tissue sealants have shown to reduce the incidence of postoperative morbidity. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness of tissue sealants in reducing the incidence of postoperative lymphoceles following ILND in patients with melanoma was conducted. Individual patient data was requested to pool the data for meta-analysis appropriately. RESULTS: Thousand seven hundred twenty-nine manuscripts were screened for eligibility. Six RCTs published between 1986 and 2012 were identified including 194 patients for ILND. Only four RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. No study properly defined the term "lymphocele." Tissue sealants failed to influence the duration of drain placement (mean difference [MD] = -3.05 days; z = 1.18; P = 0.24), total drainage volume (MD = 598.39 mL; z = 1.49; P = 0.14), the incidence of postoperative seroma, wound infection and skin necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: No improvement was identified with the use of tissue sealants, however, a valid comparison of the results of included trials was difficult owing to the lack of a definition of the term "lymphocele." Other surgical techniques and trials using validated endpoint definitions are required to reevaluate these findings.

Postoperative Morbidity After Radical Resection of Primary Retroperitoneal Sarcoma: A Report From the Transatlantic RPS Working Group.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety of radical resection for retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). BACKGROUND: The surgical management of RPS frequently involves complex multivisceral resection. Improved oncologic outcomes have been demonstrated with this approach compared to marginal excision, but the safety of radical resection has not been shown in a large study population. METHODS: The Transatlantic Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Working Group (TARPSWG) is an international collaborative of sarcoma centers. A combined experience of 1007 consecutive resections for primary RPS from January 2002 to December 2011 was studied retrospectively with respect to adverse events. A weighted organ score was devised to account for differences in surgical complexity. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate associations between adverse events and number and patterns of organs resected. Associations between adverse events and overall survival, local recurrence, and distant metastases were investigated. RESULTS: Severe postoperative adverse events (Clavien-Dindo ≥3) occurred in 165 patients (16.4%) and 18 patients (1.8%) died within 30 days. Significant predictors of severe adverse events were age (P = 0.003), transfusion requirements (P < 0.001), and resected organ score (P = 0.042). Resections involving pancreaticoduodenectomy, major vascular resection, and splenectomy/pancreatectomy were found to entail higher operative risk (odds ratio >1.5). There was no impact of postoperative adverse events on overall survival, local recurrence, or distant metastases. CONCLUSIONS: A radical surgical approach to RPS is safe when carried out at a specialist sarcoma center. High-risk resections should be carefully considered on an individual basis and weighed against anticipated disease biology. There appears to be no association between surgical morbidity and long-term oncologic outcomes.

Strengthening health data on a rare and heterogeneous disease: sarcoma incidence and histological subtypes in Germany.

BACKGROUND: The population-based incidence of sarcoma and its histological subtypes in Germany is unknown. Up-to-date information on a disease with an incidence comparable to other cancer entities is of high public health relevance. The aim of this study was to determine this incidence and to detect significant changes in incidence trends using data from German epidemiological cancer registries. METHODS: Pooled data from the German Centre for Cancer Registry Data with a primary diagnosis occurring in 2013 were used. To date, this is the latest data on cancer incidence available for Germany. All German cancer registries with sufficient completeness were included (10 out of 11), covering a population of 70.0 million people, representing 87% of the German population. All malignant sarcomas according to the RARECARE Project and the WHO classification 2002 were considered for analysis and, above all, gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) of uncertain behaviour. Sensitivity analysis was performed excluding certain histologies. RESULTS: The analysis included 3404 cases in men and 3442 cases in women diagnosed in 2013. The age adjusted sarcoma incidence (European standard) was 7.4 (men) and 6.6 (women) per 100,000 inhabitants. About 70% of sarcomas were soft tissue sarcomas, about 22% GIST, and about 9% bone sarcomas. The most common histological subtypes besides GIST were fibrosarcomas (14%) and liposarcomas (12%) in men and complex mixed and stromal neoplasms (22%), non-uterine leiomysarcomas (10%) and fibrosarcomas (9%) in women. Considering the trend for the years of diagnosis 2004 to 2013, there was a significant increase in incidence for GIST while the incidence of soft tissue sarcomas (only men) as well as of bone sarcoma stayed constant over time. As to soft tissue sarcoma in women, the incidence stayed constant up to the year 2009 and significantly decreased afterwards. CONCLUSION: This study is the first detailed analysis of a German-wide population-based sarcoma incidence showing results comparable to the incidence detected in the RARECARE Project.

Post-relapse outcomes after primary extended resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma: A report from the Trans-Atlantic RPS Working Group.

BACKGROUND: Despite a radical surgical approach to primary retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS), many patients experience locoregional and/or distant recurrence. The objective of this study was to analyze post-relapse outcomes for patients with RPS who had initially undergone surgical resection of their primary tumor at a specialist center. METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent macroscopically complete resection for primary RPS at 8 high volume centers from January 2002 to December 2011 were identified, and those who developed local recurrence (LR) only, distant metastasis (DM) only, or synchronous local recurrence and distant metastasis (LR+DM) during the follow-up period were included. Overall survival (OS) was calculated for all groups, as was the crude cumulative incidence of a second recurrence after the first LR. Multivariate analyses for OS were performed. RESULTS: In an initial series of 1007 patients with primary RPS, 408 patients developed recurrent disease during the follow-up period. The median follow-up from the time of recurrence was 41 months. The median OS was 33 months after LR (n = 219), 25 months after DM (n = 146), and 12 months after LR+DM (n = 43), and the 5-year OS rates were 29%, 20%, and 14%, respectively. Predictors of OS after LR were the time interval to LR and resection of LR, while histologic grade approached significance. For DM, significant predictors of OS were the time interval to DM and histologic subtype. The subgroup of patients who underwent resection of recurrent disease had a longer median OS than patients who did not undergo resection. CONCLUSIONS: Relapse of RPS portends high disease-specific mortality. Patients with locally recurrent or metastatic disease should be considered for resection. Cancer 2017;123:1971-1978. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Role of isolated limb perfusion with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor α and melphalan in locally advanced extremity soft tissue sarcoma.

The management of locally advanced extremity soft tissue sarcoma of the limbs is challenging, particularly for recurrent tumors and those adjacent to neurovascular bundles and joints. Typically, the tumors are large, below the fascia, and high-grade (T2b or stage III according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer) and thus require multimodal therapy. Treatment options must be tailored to patient and tumor characteristics. Isolated limb perfusion with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor α and melphalan (TNF-ILP) adds a therapeutic option to radiation therapy (RT) and systemic chemotherapy. Although the procedure is somewhat sophisticated to learn, it is a safe method and has been used now for almost 2 decades at more than 50 centers worldwide. TNF-ILP yields a high rate of complete or nearly complete pathologic tumor remission. In combination with surgical resection of the tumor remnant after isolated limb perfusion, the limb salvage rate is close to 90%. Often, patients can be spared adjuvant RT without long-term local tumor control rates being compromised. Nevertheless, TNF-ILP has never been compared with another treatment regimen in a randomized trial. This review summarizes the mode of action and standard application of TNF-ILP and focuses on a critical discussion of the role of TNF-ILP in the multimodal treatment of locally advanced primary and recurrent extremity sarcoma. Cancer 2016. © 2016 American Cancer Society. Cancer 2016;122:2624-2632. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

External validation of a multi-institutional retroperitoneal sarcoma nomogram.

BACKGROUND: A multi-institutional nomogram for predicting disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with primary retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) incorporating relevant prognostic factors not included in the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for soft tissue sarcoma has been reported. The authors validated this nomogram with an independent, transatlantic cohort. METHODS: Data from patients with RPS who were undergoing definitive resection at 1 of 6 sarcoma centers in Europe and North America ("validation set") were used to validate a RPS nomogram developed from 3 other centers ("development set"). The nomogram incorporated 6 variables: age, tumor size, grade, histologic subtype, multifocality, and quality of surgery. Nomogram-predicted probabilities were stratified into 6 subgroups and compared with observed outcomes. Discriminative ability was quantified by Harrell C statistics. RESULTS: The validation and development sets included 631 and 523 patients, respectively, all of whom underwent surgical resection at the institutions represented. The 7-year DFS and OS rates for the validation set were 38% (95% confidence interval, 34%-43%) and 58% (95% confidence interval, 53%-63%), respectively. All 6 nomogram variables were found to be independently prognostic. The corrected Harrell C statistics concordance index values for the validation set were 0.69 for DFS and 0.73 for OS, which were similar to those for the development set, suggesting good calibration of the nomogram in the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The RPS nomogram was externally validated using a larger, independent cohort. The nomogram can be generalized to patients undergoing surgery for RPS by specialized sarcoma surgeons at sarcoma centers. The nomogram provides a more individualized and disease-relevant estimation of OS compared with the American Joint Committee on Cancer classification. Cancer 2016;122:1417-1424. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Variability in Patterns of Recurrence After Resection of Primary Retroperitoneal Sarcoma (RPS): A Report on 1007 Patients From the Multi-institutional Collaborative RPS Working Group.

BACKGROUND: Retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) are rare tumors composed of several well defined histologic subtypes. The aim of this study was to analyze patterns of recurrence and treatment variations in a large population of patients, treated at reference centers. METHODS: All consecutive patients with primary RPS treated at 6 European and 2 North American institutions between January 2002 and December 2011 were included. Five, 8, and 10-year overall survival (OS) and crude cumulative incidence (CCI) of local recurrence (LR) and distant metastasis (DM) were calculated. Multivariate analyses for OS, CCI of LR, and DM were performed. RESULTS: In all, 1007 patients were included. Median follow-up was 58 months (first and third quartile range 36-90). The 5, 8, and 10-year OS were 67% [95% confidence interval (CI), 63, 70), 56% (95% CI, 52, 61), and 46% (95% CI, 40, 53). The 5, 8, and 10-year CCI of LR and DM were 25.9 (95% CI, 23.1, 29.1), 31.3 (95% CI, 27.8, 35.1), 35% (95% CI, 30.5, 40.1), and 21% (95% CI, 18.4, 23.8%), 21.6 (95% CI, 19.0, 24.6), and 21.6 (95% CI, 19.0, 24.6), respectively. Tumour size, histologic subtype, malignancy grade, multifocality, and completeness of resection were significant predictors of outcome. Patterns of recurrence varied depending on histologic subtype. Different treatment policies at participating institutions influenced LR of well differentiated liposarcoma without impacting OS, whereas discrepancies in adjuvant systemic therapies did not impact LR, DM, or OS of leiomyosarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: Reference centers are critical to outcomes of RPS patients, as the management strategy requires specific expertise. Histologic subtype predicts patterns of recurrence and should inform management decision. A prospective international registry is under preparation, to further define our understanding of this disease.

Combined radiation therapy and sunitinib for preoperative treatment of soft tissue sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Antiangiogenic substances and radiation therapy (RT) may have synergistic effects and improve irradiation efficacy. We present a cohort study evaluating the toxicity of combined sunitinib and RT as neoadjuvant treatment of extremity and retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (STS). METHODS: Sixteen patients with locally advanced extremity (6/16) or retroperitoneal (10/16) STS were treated with continuous-dosing sunitinib (15/16: 37.5 mg daily; 1/16: 25 mg daily) and standard RT (45-50.4 Gy) preoperatively. Surgery was scheduled 5-9 weeks following neoadjuvant treatment. The primary goal of the study was to determine combined treatment toxicity according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Secondary goals were the evaluation of postoperative morbidity and treatment response. RESULTS: Eight of 16 patients developed grade 3, and one patient developed grade 4, hematological toxicity. One patient experienced grade 3 hand-foot syndrome. The most frequent treatment toxicities of any grade were hematological (15/16) or dermatological (9/16). Three patients had partial response, 11 had stable disease, and 2 had progressive disease according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). Fourteen of 16 patients underwent surgery; tumors were not removed in two patients because of patient refusal or intercurrent metastatic disease. The proportion of tumor necrosis exceeded 90 % in 5 of 14 patients, and 4 patients had postoperative complications requiring reintervention. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative treatment with concurrent sunitinib and RT was tolerable, and postoperative morbidity did not increase. Combined treatment with RT and sunitinib was also feasible in patients with retroperitoneal STS, and warrants further investigation.