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Unplanned Excision of Extremity and Trunk Wall Soft Tissue Sarcoma: To Re-resect or Not to Re-resect?

  • Sarcoma
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Abstract

Purpose

The need for systematic reexcision in patients who underwent unplanned excision (UE) for extremity and superficial trunk soft tissue sarcoma (ESTSTS) has been questioned. We investigated the outcome of patients who underwent reexcision for ESTSTS compared with primarily resected at our institution and the prognostic impact of microscopic residual disease (MR) in the reexcision specimen.

Methods

Primary ESTSTS patients surgically treated at our institution between 1997 and 2017 were divided in three groups: primarily resected (A), reexcised after macroscopically complete UE (B), and incomplete UE (C). Weighted overall survival (OS), crude cumulative incidence of local relapse (CCI-LR), and distant metastasis (CCI-DM) were calculated and compared. In group B, multivariable models were performed to assess factors associated with the outcomes.

Results

A total of 1962 patients were identified: 1076, 697 and 189 in groups A, B, and C, respectively. Overall median follow-up was 85 months. Seven-year weighted-OS was 73.8%, 84.1%, and 80.7% (p < 0.001) for groups A, B, and C respectively. Seven-year CCI-LR and DM were 5.0% and 25.3%, 12.1% and 15.8%, and 13.6% and 29.4% (both p < 0.001) for groups A, B, and C, respectively. At multivariable analysis, the presence MR was associated with LR (p < 0.001) but not with OS nor CCI-DM.

Conclusions

UE and the presence of MR at pathology in reexcision specimen are associated to a higher risk of LR but not to a higher risk of DM or lower OS. After macroscopic complete UE, postponing reexcision until a LR occurs may be considered on an individualized basis.

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Correspondence to Alessandro Gronchi MD.

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Disclosures

Paolo Casali: In the past years, I have had honoraria for speaker, consultancy, or advisory role from: Bayer, Deciphera, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Pfizer. At my institution, my Unit received funds from: Advenchen Laboratories, Amgen Dompé, AROG Pharmaceuticals, Bayer, Blueprint Medicines, Daiichi Sankyo, Deciphera, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Epizyme Inc, Glaxo, Karyopharm Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Pfizer, PharmaMar. The other authors do not have any commercial interest in the subject of study and no funding was received in support of this work.

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Supplementary information

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10434_2020_9564_MOESM1_ESM.eps

Supplementary Fig. 1 Calibration plots of observed 10-yr OS and calculated OS according to Sarculator model for group A. (EPS document) (EPS 147 kb)

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Supplementary Fig. 2 Calibration plots of observed 10-yr OS and calculated OS according to Sarculator model for group B. (EPS document) (EPS 133 kb)

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Supplementary Fig. 3 Forest plots of the hazard ratio for OS overall and according to histology subtype. (EPS document) (EPS 292 kb)

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Supplementary Fig. 4 Forest plots of the hazard ratio for CCI-LR overall and according to histology subtype. (EPS document) (EPS 294 kb)

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Supplementary Fig. 5 Forest plots of the hazard ratio for CCI-DM overall and according to histology subtype. (EPS document) (EPS 325 kb)

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Danieli, M., Barretta, F., Fiore, M. et al. Unplanned Excision of Extremity and Trunk Wall Soft Tissue Sarcoma: To Re-resect or Not to Re-resect?. Ann Surg Oncol 28, 4706–4717 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-020-09564-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-020-09564-6

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