Is preoperative radiotherapy suitable for all patients with primary soft tissue sarcoma of the limbs?

To evaluate the indications and results of preoperative radiotherapy (RT) on a series of selected patients treated at our institution with curative intent for a limb sarcoma (STS).

From 05/1993 to 12/2011, 64 STS patients received preoperative RT.

RT was delivered as a "limb salvage treatment" prior to surgery for the following reasons: as the preferential induction treatment in 53 patients (83%) or as a second intent (17%) after the failure of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy/isolated limb perfusion. Surgery was performed after RT in 54 (84%) patients and final limb salvage was performed in 98%. Musculo-cutaneous flap reconstruction was planned upfront in 44% patients, and 19% had a skin graft. Seven patients (13%) had a postoperative RT boost. Thirteen (20%) patients had grade (G) 3/4 adverse events, one after RT and 12 after surgery. At a median follow-up of 3.5 years, the 3-year actuarial overall survival (OS) and distant relapse (DR) rates were 83% and 31%, respectively. Two patients developed a local relapse and two a local progression (non-operated patients). In the multivariate analysis (MVA), histological subtype (leiomyosarcoma) and grade 3 were predictive of poorer survival. Patients with >3 month delay between the start of RT and surgery at our institution had an increased risk of DR in the MVA.

Induction RT should be personalised according to histological subtype, tumour site and risks-benefit ratio of preoperative radiotherapy and is best managed by a multidisciplinary surgical and oncology team in a specialist sarcoma centre.