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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
A Mouse Model of Incompletely Resected Soft Tissue Sarcoma for Testing Neoadjuvant Therapies
Published on: July 28, 2020
Real-World Trends and Outcomes for Localized High-Grade Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Insights from a Sarcoma Unit in
Adel Shahnam1, Jeremy Lewin1,2, Anne Hamilton1,2
1Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
Aims:
This study aimed to evaluate temporal trends in treatment patterns for localized soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) and identify factors associated with relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS).
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Australian Comprehensive Cancer Outcomes and Research Database (ACCORD) and electronic health records from a high-volume sarcoma unit. Patients aged ≥18 years with grade 3, localized STS ≥5 cm diagnosed between 2013 and 2023 were included. The cohort was divided into two periods (2013-2017 and 2018-2023) to assess changes in treatment practices. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models evaluated RFS and OS.
Results:
Among 202 patients, radiation use decreased in the late period (79% vs. 64%, p = 0.03), with a trend toward increased systemic therapy (8% vs. 16%, p = 0.13). Median RFS was 19 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.9-26.0), with no significant difference between periods (hazard ratio [HR] 1.30, 95% CI: 0.93-1.82, p = 0.13). Median OS was 48 months (95% CI: 38.1-62.9), also showing no difference (HR 1.20, 95% CI: 0.80-1.78, p = 0.38). Radiotherapy improved RFS (HR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49-0.98, p = 0.04) but not OS. Systemic therapy showed no RFS or OS benefit. Exploratory analyses identified age, tumor size, FDG-PET SUVmax, site, and Sarculator risk as prognostic factors.
Conclusion:
Treatment patterns evolved over time, reflecting emerging evidence, but no significant RFS or OS differences were observed. Further research is needed, including exploring prognostic factors like elevated baseline FDG-PET SUVmax.
