Advanced well-differentiated/dedifferentiated liposarcomas: role of chemotherapy and survival

Data regarding the role of systemic therapy in patients with advanced well-differentiated/dedifferentiated liposarcomas (WDLPS/DDLPS) are limited.

From 2000 to 2010, 208 patients with advanced WDLPS/DDLPS received chemotherapy in 11 participating institutions. Clinical and pathological data were collected by reviewing medical records.

Median age was 63 years (range 32-84). Combination chemotherapy was delivered in 85 cases (41%) and single agent in 123 cases (59%), respectively. One hundred and seventy-one patients (82%) received an anthracycline-containing regimen. Using RECIST, objective response was observed in 21 patients (12%), all treated with anthracyclines. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.6 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.3-5.9]. On multivariate analysis, age and performance status (PS) were the sole factors significantly associated with poor PFS. Median overall survival (OS) was 15.2 months (95% CI 11.8 -18.7). On multivariate analysis, grade and PS were the sole factors significantly associated with OS.

Chemotherapy was associated with clinical benefit in 46% of patients with advanced WDLPS/DDLPS. OS remains poor, even though visceral metastatic disease is less frequent than in other sarcomas.