Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026
07:15
A Mouse Model of Incompletely Resected Soft Tissue Sarcoma for Testing Neoadjuvant Therapies
Published on: July 28, 2020
10.4K
External Beam Radiation Therapy for Resectable Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Markus Albertsmeier1, Alexandra Rauch2,3, Falk Roeder4,5
1Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Ludwig Maximilian University Hospital, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
Annals of Surgical Oncology
|September 13, 2017
Summary
External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) effectively reduces local recurrence in soft tissue sarcomas (STSs). While EBRT improves overall survival (OS) for retroperitoneal STSs, its impact on OS in other locations requires further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a diverse group of malignant tumors originating from connective tissues.
- Resectable STSs often require a multimodal treatment approach, including surgery and radiation therapy.
- The optimal sequencing and role of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in managing STSs remain areas of active research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of preoperative and postoperative external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in treating resectable soft tissue sarcomas (STSs).
- To assess the impact of EBRT on local recurrence (LR) and overall survival (OS) across different STS tumor locations.
- To compare the outcomes of preoperative versus postoperative EBRT in the management of STSs.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies comparing EBRT with no EBRT, and different EBRT sequences.
- Random effects meta-analyses were performed to calculate cumulative odds ratios (ORs) for local recurrence and overall survival.
- Sixteen studies (n=3958) comparing EBRT versus no EBRT and eleven studies (n=2140) comparing preoperative versus postoperative radiotherapy were analyzed.
Main Results:
- EBRT significantly reduced local recurrence (LR) in both retroperitoneal tumors (OR 0.47) and other STS locations (OR 0.49).
- Overall survival (OS) was improved by EBRT in retroperitoneal STSs (OR 0.37) but not in other tumor locations.
- Preoperative EBRT was associated with lower LR in retroperitoneal STSs (OR 0.03) and other locations (OR 0.67), but increased wound complications in extremity sarcomas (OR 2.92).
Conclusions:
- External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is supported for improving local tumor control in patients with resectable soft tissue sarcomas (STSs).
- A potential positive effect of EBRT on overall survival (OS) may exist for retroperitoneal STSs, based on non-randomized studies.
- Further high-quality research, including randomized controlled trials for retroperitoneal STS, is needed to confirm these findings.
