Retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas: a pilot study of intraoperative radiation therapy

This pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and tolerance of a multimodal therapy of retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (STS), including intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). Nineteen patients (14 primarily treated patients and 5 treated for a recurrent tumor) were included. Surgery included a complete resection (14), a partial resection (2), and no resection (2). The median IORT dose was 17 Gy. Thirteen patients also received an external radiation therapy (ERT). Nine patients received chemotherapy. There was no postoperative mortality. Immediate postoperative complications occurred in four patients (21%). Delayed complications occurred in six patients, including one lethal iliac artery disruption. With a median follow-up of 17 months, the 2-year disease-free survival rate was 60%, and the 2-year actuarial local control rate was 76%. A multimodality approach of treatment, including IORT and ERT and eventually chemotherapy, appears feasible in patients with retroperitoneal STS. However, the treatment-related morbidity appeared relatively high in this study.