Factors associated with relapse in soft tissue sarcomas : a study of 125 retrospective cases

Seance of wednesday 26 february 2003 (SEANCE A DAKAR (SENEGAL))

Abstract

Soft tissue sarcomas are rare tumors characterized by high pathologicvariability and high recurrence rates. The aim of this study wasto better define the factors associated with relapse. We performed auni- and multivariate analysis of 125 retrospective cases to identifyfactors associated with relapse.Our patients ages ranged from 6 to 94 years (mean age : 39). Themajority was male (52%), with no family or exposure history(50%). Patients were referred after a long delay (mean: 73 monthsafter the first symptoms) with locally advanced tumors (11,5cmmean diameter), involving regional structures (48%) and regionallymph nodes (64%). Six per cent of our patients had distant metastasis.The treatment consisted in a macroscopically complete surgicalresection (87%) followed by lymph node dissection in just 3,2% ofthe patients. Adjuvant therapy consisted in chemotherapy (14%)and, exceptionally, external beam radiations (1,6%). One patient,out of four, had a local recurrence and we found 14% of metachronousmetastasis. On univariate analysis, male status (p=0,0225),lack of chemotherapy (p=0,0138) and the chemotherapy regimen(p=0,0138) were found to be predictive of local relapse. Only oneindependent factor (male status, p=0,0389) was identified on mult ivariateanalysis.Our patients were young and had locally advanced diseases. Exceptthe role of male status, which we cannot explain, lack of chemotherapyand the regimen used appeared to be predictive of local recurrence.