[Significance of radiotherapy in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas]

Postoperative photon- or electron irradiation has been well established in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas. For further improvement of these results, neutron- or neutron-boost irradiation was introduced at several centres of radiation therapy. In this report, the 3.5 year results of 112 patients are analysed. The majority (62%) had T3-tumours (UICC classification, Geneva 1978). 58 patients presented with gross tumour at the beginning of radiotherapy, and 54 patients without clinical evidence of tumour. 39 patients (35%) had recurrent tumours. A highly statistical difference in local tumour control was found between the group of patients with gross tumour (47%) and the group of patients without clinical evidence of tumour (81%). A statistical difference in local control and survival was also found between the group of patients with T1-tumours (100%), T2 tumours (76.8%) and T3 tumours (44.5%), whereas no differences were found in terms of grading. The high complication rate of 25%, which was found after neutron therapy, was reduced to 7% after introduction of a neutron boost. The statistical significance of this treatment modality is presently being evaluated in a randomised EORTC trial. Adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended für all G3 tumours.