A Retrospective Analysis of Systemic Oncologic Treatment in Older Patients With Advanced Soft-tissue Sarcoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

• Soft-tissue sarcoma affects a significant and growing proportion of elderly patients (over 65).
• Older adults are often underrepresented in clinical trials for soft-tissue sarcoma, limiting treatment guidance.
• This study addresses the need for data on treatment patterns and outcomes in older soft-tissue sarcoma patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate treatment strategies and clinical outcomes in elderly patients diagnosed with advanced soft-tissue sarcoma.
• To compare treatment intensity, adverse events, and survival rates between different age groups of soft-tissue sarcoma patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 152 patients aged 50 and above with advanced soft-tissue sarcoma treated at Helsinki University Hospital (2000-2020).
• Data collected included patient and tumor characteristics, treatment regimens, and survival outcomes.
• Patients were categorized into three age groups: 50-64, 65-74, and ≥75 years.

Main Results:

• The oldest group (≥75 years) received predominantly single-agent chemotherapy with lower relative dose-intensity.
• Older patients experienced fewer grade 3-4 hematological adverse events but received fewer treatment lines.
• Patients aged ≥75 had a higher risk of mortality (HR=1.7) and shorter median overall survival (7.4 months) compared to younger groups.

Conclusions:

• Tailored chemotherapy can be tolerated by older soft-tissue sarcoma patients.
• Despite tolerance, older patients may not achieve the same survival benefits as younger counterparts.
• Further research is needed to optimize treatment strategies for elderly patients with soft-tissue sarcoma.