Canadian researchers have reported that adjuvant chemotherapy improves outcomes of adult patients with localized soft tissue sarcoma (STS). The details of this study appeared in the August 1, 2008 issue of Cancer.1
Soft tissue sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors with variable rates of recurrence after complete resection. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with STS is controversial. Meta-analyses have shown modest benefit, and other studies have shown early survival advantages that were not sustained over time. Recently, researchers affiliated with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Trial 9514 have reported that neoadjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy may improve disease-free survival and prevent amputations in patients with high-grade, high-risk STS (see first item of related news).
The current study involved 18 clinical randomized trials of adjuvant chemotherapy versus no adjuvant therapy for 1,953 patients with localized, resectable STS. These authors reported a 27% reduction in local recurrences in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. The risk of distant recurrence was reduced by 33% in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Doxorubicin alone improved survival by 16%, which was not statistically significant. However, doxorubicin combined with ifosfamide improved survival by 44%. These authors concluded that adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin and ifosfamide improved outcomes of patients with STS.
Comments: These data suggest that adjuvant chemotherapy is of value in patients with localized STS. However, more needs to be known about specific types of STS and the toxicities associated with adjuvant chemotherapy.
Related News:
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Promising for Large Soft Tissue Sarcomas (3/3/2006)
Reference:
1 Pervaiz N, Colterjohn N, Farrokhyar F, et al. A syxtematic meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of adjuvant chemotherapy for localized respectable soft-tissue sarcoma. Cancer. 2008;113:573-581.
© 1998-2007 OncoEd.com All Rights Reserved.
These materials may discuss uses and dosages for therapeutic products that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. All readers should verify all information and data before administering any drug, therapy or treatment discussed herein. Neither the editors nor the publisher accepts any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or consequences from the use or misuse of the information contained herein.
Patient Home
