Proximal femur versus acetabular extra-articular resection of the hip joint for primary malignant bone tumors: a retrospective comparative review of 33 cases

Introduction

Extra-articular resection (EAR) of the hip joint is prone to significant complications and morbidity. Thus, this study evaluates the cumulative incidences and main reasons of reoperation following EAR of primary malignant bone tumors (PMBT) of the hip to determine whether the outcomes are different between EAR of the pelvis and that of the proximal femur.

Patients and methods

Thirty-three patients presented with a PMBT of the proximal femur or pelvis were included in this study. Among all PMBTs, 58% originated from the pelvis and 42% were from the proximal femur. Twenty patients had chondrosarcomas (61%), 10 had osteosarcomas (30%), and 3 had sarcomas of another histological subtype (9%).

Results

The mean follow-up was of 76 months (range: 24–220 months). The cumulative probabilities of revision for any reason were 52% (95% confidence interval [CI] 30–70%) 5 years after surgery. The 5-year cumulative probabilities of revision were 13% (95% CI 4–27%), 24% (95% CI 10–42%), and 34% (95% CI 14–56%) for mechanical, infectious, and tumoral reasons, respectively. The 5-year cumulative probabilities of revision for any reason were 78% (95% CI 37–94%) and 14% (95% CI 2–38%) for the pelvis and proximal femur, respectively (p = 0.004). Posterior column preservation was significantly associated with more mechanical complications even after adjusting for the resection site (p = 0.043).

Conclusion

Half of patients undergoing EAR of the hip joint for PMBT of the proximal femur or acetabulum will require another operation. EAR of the pelvis is associated with significantly worse outcome than EAR of the proximal femur.

Effect of Prehabilitation Before Total Knee Replacement for Knee Osteoarthritis on Functional Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Multidisciplinary prehabilitation before total knee replacement (TKR) for osteoarthritis may improve outcomes in the postoperative period.

OBJECTIVE

To compare multidisciplinary prehabilitation with usual care before TKR for osteoarthritis in terms of functional independence and activity limitations after surgery.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This prospective, open-label randomized clinical trial recruited participants 50 to 85 years of age with knee osteoarthritis according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria for whom a TKR was scheduled at 3 French tertiary care centers. Recruitment started on October 4, 2012, with follow-up completed on November 29, 2017. Statistical analyses were conducted from March 29, 2018, to March 6, 2019.

INTERVENTIONS

Four supervised sessions of multidisciplinary rehabilitation and education (2 sessions per week, at least 2 months before TKR, delivered to groups of 4-6 participants at each investigating center; session duration was 90 minutes and included 30 minutes of education followed by 60 minutes of exercise therapy) or usual care (information booklet and standard advice by the orthopedic surgeon) before TKR.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The short-term primary end point was the proportion of participants achieving functional independence a mean (SD) of 4 (1) days after surgery defined as level 3 on the 4 functional tests. The midterm primary end point was activity limitations within 6 months after TKR assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the self-administered Western Ontario Questionnaire and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index function subscale.

RESULTS

A total of 262 patients (mean [SD] age, 68.6 [8.0] years; 178 women [68%]) were randomized (131 to each group). A mean (SD) of 4 (1) days after surgery, 34 of 101 (34%) in the experimental group vs 26 of 95 (27%) in the control group achieved functional independence (risk ratio, 1.4; 97.5% CI, 0.9-2.1; P = .15). At 6 months, the mean (SD) area under the curve for the Western Ontario Questionnaire and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index function subscale was 38.1 (16.5) mm2 in the experimental group vs 40.6 (17.8) mm2 in the control group (absolute difference, -2.8 mm2; 97.5% CI, -7.8 to 2.3; P = .31 after multiple imputation). No differences were found in secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This randomized clinical trial found no evidence that multidisciplinary prehabilitation before TKR for osteoarthritis improves short-term functional independence or reduces midterm activity limitations after surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01671917.

Rare bone sarcomas: A retrospective analysis of 145 adult patients from the French Sarcoma Group

The benefit of chemotherapy (CT) in rare bone sarcomas is not documented in prospective studies. Our retrospective study from the French sarcoma network for bone tumors ResOs was performed in adult patients (pts) from 1976 to 2014, with histologically verified diagnosis of leiomyosarcomas (LMS), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) or radiation-associated sarcomas of bone. The median follow-up was 4.7 years (95% CI: 3.7-6.5). Clinical features, treatment modalities and outcomes were recorded and analyzed from 145 pts (median age 53 years [range 20-87]). Site of disease was extremities (66%) or axial skeleton (34%), 111 (77%) presented with localized and potentially resectable disease. The most common histological subtypes were UPS (58%) and LMS (33%); 58% were high-grade tumors. Surgery was performed in 127 pts. In the 111 localized pts, 28 pts (25%) underwent upfront surgery or exclusive radiotherapy (RT; >50 Gy) without CT, whereas 83 pts (75%) received either neoadjuvant (n = 26) or adjuvant CT (n = 13) or both (n = 44). Neoadjuvant and adjuvant CT was mostly doxorubicin-based (95%/86%) and cisplatin-based (67%/63%). R0 resection was achieved in 59 pts, and a good histological response in 15 patients (25%). Adjuvant RT was performed in 24 (22%) pts. For the whole cohort (n = 145), the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 53% [42; 62]. In univariate analysis, age ≤ 60 was associated with a longer disease-free survival (DFS) (P = .0436). Neoadjuvant and adjuvant CT tended to be associated with better DFS (P = .056) with no significant impact on OS in this retrospective series.

Ankle CT scan allows better management of posterior malleolus fractures than X-rays

PURPOSE

Undiagnosed and undertreated posterior malleolus fractures lead to early ankle instability and arthritis. A preoperative CT scan could improve the management of those fractures. This study assessed the benefits of a systematic ankle CT scanner to diagnose and manage posterior malleolus fracture.

METHODS

A monocentric retrospective cohort study was conducted. Sixty consecutive patients with bimalleolar fractures were operated and underwent a preoperative CT scan. The mean age was 50.0 years old (18.6 years old) with a mean body mass index of 20.3 (kg/m²) (11.4 kg/m²) and 71.7% (43/60) of women. The primary outcome was the rate of posterior malleolus fragment diagnosed on X-rays and on CT scan. Secondly, interobserver and interobserver's agreement were compared between conventional X-rays and CT scan.

RESULTS

Thirty-five (58.3%) posterior fragment fractures were observed on X-rays and 53 (88.3%) on the preoperative CT scan (p < 0.01). The intraobserver reproducibility for X-rays was low (0.02 [- 0.23; 0.27]) and moderate for CT scan (0.45 [0.0; 0.84]). The interobserver reproducibility for X-rays was moderate (0.39 [0.15; 0.60]) and excellent for CT scan (0.78 [0.0; 1.0]).

CONCLUSION

A wide proportion of bimalleolar fractures are associated with posterior malleolus fractures and undiagnosed with standard X-rays. We advocate a systematic preoperative CT scan in the management of bimalleolar fractures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, retrospective cohort study.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

2218999v0, date of registration: 11/08/2020 (retrospectively registered).

Does using the direct anterior approach with a standard table for total hip arthroplasty reduce leg length discrepancies? Comparative study of traction table versus standard table

INTRODUCTION

Primary total hip replacement (THR) comes with a risk of leg length discrepancy (LLD), which occurs in 25 % of cases, especially when the surgery is done using an anterior approach on a traction table, since it is not easy to verify the lengths of the legs. By doing the anterior approach on a standard table an intraoperative visual evaluation of leg lengths can be done after the trial implants are in place. As far as we know, the ability to set the leg length has not been compared between procedures done on a standard table or a traction table. This led us to carry out a retrospective comparative study to determine whether using a standard table for anterior THR will 1) allow better control over leg length, 2) increase the risk of incorrect implant positioning, 3) increase the surgical complication rate.

HYPOTHESIS

Anterior THR on a standard table will allow better control over leg length than anterior THR on a traction table.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This single center retrospective study included 266 THRs done between January 1, 2018 and November 2, 2019 for primary (n=219) or secondary (n=47) hip osteoarthritis. The 137 cases done with a traction table were compared to the 129 cases with a standard table. The two groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, body mass index, indication and bilateral implants. They were not comparable in the surgeon experience (more junior surgeons in the standard table group [p<0.001]) and types of implants used (more cementless cups and stems in the standard table group [p=0.001]). Radiographs were used to measure the LLD, cup inclination, and femoral stem placement in the frontal plane. Any early complications were documented. The target was for the operated leg to be the same length as the contralateral leg, which was defined as within 10mm of each other.

RESULTS

The mean postoperative LLD was comparable between the traction table group 1.56±7.32 mm (min -15.6 max 17.2) and the standard table group 0.53±6.93 mm (min -16.4 max 13.7) (p=0.24). In the traction table group, 81 % (111/137) of patients had legs of the same length, versus 84 % (109/129) in the standard table group (p=0.7). Cup inclination was comparable with a mean of 40.4±7.1 degrees (min 23.4; max 58.5) in the traction table group versus 39.3±7.5 degrees (min 19.9; max 60.9) in the standard table group (p=0.21). The frontal position of the femoral stem was comparable between groups with a mean of 0.09±0.45 degrees (min -1; max 3.98) in the traction table group versus 0.08±0.59 degrees (min -4.97; max 1.93) in the standard table group (p=0.86). There were 5 complications (3.7 %) in the traction table group versus 11 (8.5 %) in the standard table group (p=0.16).

CONCLUSION

Use of a standard table to carry out THR by the direct anterior approach does not provide better control over leg length than using a traction table, subject to preoperative planning. When doing the procedure on a standard table, the implant placement is at least comparable, with a similar risk of complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III; case matched study.

Parosteal osteosarcoma associated with a low-grade component mimicking well-differentiated liposarcoma: a case report

Parosteal osteosarcomas and well-differentiated liposarcomas are both well-differentiated locally aggressive tumors. They both have simple karyotypes with amplification of the 12q13-15 regions including MDM2 and CDK4 genes. In this report, we describe the case of a parosteal osteosarcoma intertwined with a low-grade component similar to a well-differentiated liposarcoma. The association of a bone component with an adipose component was initially overlooked. We describe the histological, imaging, and molecular characteristics of this tumor stressing the importance of radio-pathological correlation. To our knowledge, this is the second report of a parosteal osteoliposarcoma. Awareness of this rare presentation may allow radiologists and surgeons to recognize the peripheral fatty component as an integral part of the tumor.

The ankle ligament reconstruction-return to sport after injury (ALR-RSI) is a valid and reproducible scale to quantify psychological readiness before returning to sport after ankle ligament reconstruction

PURPOSE

Chronic ankle instability is the main complication of ankle sprains and requires surgery if non-operative treatment fails. The goal of this study was to validate a tool to quantify psychological readiness to return to sport after ankle ligament reconstruction.

METHODS

The form was designed like the anterior cruciate ligament-return to sport after injury scale and "Knee" was replaced by the term "ankle". The ankle ligament reconstruction-return to sport after injury (ALR-RSI) scale was filled by patients who underwent ankle ligament reconstruction and were active in sports. The scale was then validated according to the international COSMIN methodology. The AOFAS and Karlsson scores were used as reference questionnaires.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven patients (59 ankles) were included, 27 women. The ALR-RSI scale was strongly correlated with the Karlsson score (r = 0.79 [0.66-0.87]) and the AOFAS score (r = 0.8 [0.66-0.87]). A highly significant difference was found in the ALR-RSI between the subgroup of 50 patients who returned to playing sport and the seven who did not: 68.8 (56.5-86.5) vs 45.0 (31.3-55.8), respectively, p = 0.02. The internal consistency of the scale was high (α = 0.96). Reproducibility of the test-retest was excellent (ρ = 0.92; 95% CI [0.86-0.96]).

CONCLUSION

The ALR-RSI is a valid, reproducible scale that identifies patients who are ready to return to the same sport after ankle ligament reconstruction. This scale may help to identify athletes who will find sport resumption difficult.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Abstract 3721: Relationship between insulin resistance and chemosensitivity of high grade bone sarcoma

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with intercalated surgery is the standard of care for resectable high-grade bone sarcoma (BS) but identification of biomarkers for chemosensitivity prediction is still needed. Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) pathway was first linked with sarcoma biology approximately 30 years ago (El-Brady OM, 1990).

Methods: We recruited 138 pts with newly diagnosed primary localized or metastatic BS. We measured fasting blood glucose and insulin, body mass index (BMI). The HOMA-IR (Homeostasis Model Assessment) score ((Glucose (mmol/l) x Insulin) / 22.5), which has been proven to reliably detect insulin resistance IR was calculated, and patients with HOMA-IR &gt; 2.6 were considered as IR. We collected characteristics usually associated with insulin resistance: age, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension.

Results: Out of 138 pts, 50 (36%) were insulin resistant: HOMA-IR &gt;2.6. Thirty-two IR patients (64%) had no cardiovascular risk factor. In univariate analysis, IR was associated with obesity (BMI &gt; 30 kg/m2)(22% vs 3%, p=0.0015), but not with age (median 36,8 vs 41 years, p=0.19). IR was more prevalent in Ewing sarcoma (14/29; 48%) and chondrosarcoma (7/16; 44%) followed by osteosarcoma (25/67; 37%) and other rare bone sarcomas (4/26; 15.3%), but not significantly (p=0.097). After neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery of Ewing tumor and osteosarcoma, pathologic tumor necrosis was higher in IR pts (88.9 vs 75%, p= 0.028).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that metabolic profile may help to discriminate best candidates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy in high-grade bone sarcomas. Further studies are needed to confirm and explain these results.

Citation Format: Pascaline Boudou-Rouquette, Ithar Gataa, Sixtine De Percin, Camille Tlemsani, David Biau, Valerie Dumaine, Virginie Audard, Frédérique Larousserie, Philippe Anract, Anne Jouinot, François Goldwasser. Relationship between insulin resistance and chemosensitivity of high grade bone sarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 3721.

Traumatic Patellar Tendon Rupture Repair Using Synthetic Ligament Augmentation

Rupture of the patellar tendon is an infrequent pathology, and surgical repair with nonabsorbable sutures is the gold standard for management. Many surgeons augment the repair using one of many proposed methods: cerclage wires, Dall-Miles cables, autologous hamstring grafts, and tendon allografts. In this study, we propose the augmentation of patellar tendon repair using an artificial ligament. The questions to be assessed in this study are as follows: (1) measurement of functional results 1 year after surgery using the Lysholm score and (2) the incidence of both rerupture, and surgical complications within the first year postsurgery, the median knee range of motion at 3 months and 1-year postsurgery, patient satisfaction, and postsurgery patellar height, measured using the Caton-Deschamps Index. In our center, we performed 30 suture repairs of traumatic patellar tendon ruptures between 2015 and 2016. Tendon repair was always augmented using an artificial ligament (LT60, Orthomed). The results were evaluated 1 year after surgery. The 1-year postsurgery median Lysholm score was 96 (first quartile-third quartile [Q1-Q3]: 95-100). None of the following complications were reported: second surgery for any reason, new rupture, and superficial or deep infection. Radiological analysis showed a median Caton Index of 1 (Q1-Q3: 0.9-1) postsurgery. Excellent Lysholm scores were observed 1 year after synthetic ligament augmentation of patellar tendon sutures, with a low rate of complications compared with published studies.

Anterior approach without traction table: A means of saving time and money in hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture? A case-matched study with and without traction table

BACKGROUND

The costs incurred by management of displaced femoral neck fracture are a public health issue. The anterior approach can be used for partial hip replacement, but costs in terms of equipment and time incurred by using a traction table have not to our knowledge been estimated in this indication. We therefore performed a case-control study, comparing (1) installation and deinstallation times (IT, DT) in partial hip replacement using a standard versus a traction table (ST, TT), and (2) operating times, limb-length radiography and intraoperative complications.

HYPOTHESIS

Performing the anterior approach on a standard table saves installation and deinstallation time and operating time, without leading to more intraoperative complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comparative retrospective study included 102 patients (mean age, 84.8±8 years; 46 ST, 56 TT). Installation time (IT) was calculated between entry in the operating room and performance of the incision; operating time (OT) between incision and closure; and deinstallation time (DT) between closure and leaving the operating room.

RESULTS

Mean IT in ST (25.5±6.2min) was significantly shorter than in TT (33.9±6.2min) (p=1.1*10^-9), as were DT (13±4.7 versus 17±3.4min) (p=4.1*10^-6) and OT (73.5±15.9 versus 82.6±21.3minutes) (p=0.01). There were 4 intraoperative complications: 1 greater trochanter fracture in ST and 2 greater trochanter fractures and 1 proximal femoral fracture in TT. Limb-length discrepancy was comparable between ST (3.7±3.2mm (range, 0-15mm)) and TT (5.3±4.6mm (range, 0-20mm)) (p=0.06).

DISCUSSION

Patient installation on a standard table reduced installation, deinstallation and operating time compared to use of a traction table, without increasing the complications rate.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III, case-control study.

Dual mobility constructs in revision total hip arthroplasty: survivorship analysis in recurrent dislocation versus other indications at three to twelve-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical, radiologic, and survival results of dual mobility (DM) sockets in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed for instability versus revision THAs performed for other reasons.

METHODS

From a computerized database, we identified 84 revision THAs using a modern DM socket performed in 81 patients with a mean age of 71 years. Indication for revision was recurrent dislocation in 47 hips, and other reasons in the remaining 37 hips. A survivorship analysis according to the actuarial method was carried out on the entire series using revision for any cause, revision for dislocation, and radiological cup loosening revised or not, as the end points.

RESULTS

Of the 81 patients, twelve died, six were lost to follow-up, eight had been revised, and 55 patients (58 hips) were unrevised and alive at a mean follow-up of 6.4 years. Dislocation occurred in four of the 47 (8.5%) hips for which indication for revision was dislocation versus one of the remaining 37 (2.7%) hips [odds ratio = 3.4 (0.4-31.3), p = 0.07]. According to our criteria, three acetabular components of which one was revised were considered as loosened. When using revision for dislocation as the end-point, the survival rate at seven years was 90.4 ± 5.3% (IC_95%, 79.9-100) in the 47 hips for which the indication for revision was dislocation versus 100% in the remaining 37 hips (log-rank, p = 0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study indicated that DM sockets represent an interesting solution to prevent dislocation in revision THAs at mid-term follow-up.

Integrated molecular characterization of chondrosarcoma reveals critical determinants of disease progression

Chondrosarcomas are primary cancers of cartilaginous tissue with highly contrasting prognoses. These tumors are defined by recurrent mutations in the IDH genes and other genetic alterations including inactivation of CDKN2A and COL2A1; however, these have no clinical value. Here we use multi-omics molecular profiles from a series of cartilage tumors and find an mRNA classification that identifies two subtypes of chondrosarcomas defined by a balance in tumor differentiation and cell cycle activation. The microRNA classification reveals the importance of the loss of expression of the 14q32 locus in defining the level of malignancy. Finally, DNA methylation is associated with IDH mutations. We can use the multi-omics classifications to predict outcome. We propose an mRNA-only classifier to reproduce the integrated multi-omics classification, and its application to relapsed tumor samples shows the progressive nature of the classification. Thus, it may be possible to use mRNA-based signatures to detect patients with high-risk chondrosarcomas.

Results of API-AI based regimen in osteosarcoma adult patients included in the French OS2006/Sarcome-09 study

In the OS2006 study, patients younger than 18 years were treated with a methotrexate-based regimen (MTX), patients older than 25 years with a doxorubicin-cisplatin-ifosfamide-based regimen (API-AI), whereas patients aged 18-25 years received either API-AI or MTX. We herein report the prespecified subgroup analysis of the outcome of 106 patients treated with API-AI. Preoperative chemotherapy combined three doxorubicin-ifosfamide-cisplatin (API) and two doxorubicin-ifosfamide (AI) courses. Postoperative chemotherapy was assigned by risk group: localised patients with a good histological response (<10% viable cells) received two AI and two cisplatin-ifosfamide (PI) courses; patients with synchronous metastases, poor histological response or unresectable primary received five cycles of etoposide-ifosfamide (EI). Of the 106 patients, 61 were randomised to receive or not zoledronate. Median age was 30 years (range 18-67), 66 (62%) patients were >25 years. The primary tumours were axial in 28 patients (26%), and 28 (26%) presented with metastases. Ninety-six patients (91%) had surgery, conservative in 82 (85%); 36 patients (38%, 95% CI 28-48%) were good responders. Toxicity was manageable, with no significant difference in severe acute toxicity between patients aged >25 years and those younger. With a median follow-up of 4.8 years, the 5-year event-free survival and overall survival rates were 46% (95% CI 36-56) and 57% (95% CI 47-67), respectively. The primary tumour size and initial metastases correlated with a higher risk of event. In these 106 osteosarcoma adult patients, API-AI proved feasible with no excess of toxicity, and favourable activity despite poor-prognosis factors.

Surgery in reference centers improves survival of sarcoma patients: a nationwide study

BACKGROUND

NETSARC (netsarc.org) is a network of 26 sarcoma reference centers with specialized multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDTB) aiming to improve the outcome of sarcoma patients. Since 2010, presentation to an MDTB and expert pathological review are mandatory for sarcoma patients nationwide. In the present work, the impact of surgery in a reference center on the survival of sarcoma patients investigated using this national NETSARC registry.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients' characteristics and follow-up are prospectively collected and data monitored. Descriptive, uni- and multivariate analysis of prognostic factors were conducted in the entire series (N = 35 784) and in the subgroup of incident patient population (N = 29 497).

RESULTS

Among the 35 784 patients, 155 different histological subtypes were reported. 4310 (11.6%) patients were metastatic at diagnosis. Previous cancer, previous radiotherapy, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), and Li-Fraumeni syndrome were reported in 12.5%, 3.6%, 0.7%, and 0.1% of patients respectively. Among the 29 497 incident patients, 25 851 (87.6%) patients had surgical removal of the sarcoma, including 9949 (33.7%) operated in a NETSARC center. Location, grade, age, size, depth, histotypes, gender, NF1, and surgery outside a NETSARC center all correlated to overall survival (OS), local relapse free survival (LRFS), and event-free survival (EFS) in the incident patient population. NF1 history was one of the strongest adverse prognostic factors for LRFS, EFS, and OS. Presentation to an MDTB was associated with an improved LRFS and EFS, but was an adverse prognostic factor for OS if surgery was not carried out in a reference center. In multivariate analysis, surgery in a NETSARC center was positively correlated with LRFS, EFS, and OS [P < 0.001 for all, with a hazard ratio of 0.681 (95% CI 0.618-0.749) for OS].

CONCLUSION

This nationwide registry of sarcoma patients shows that surgical treatment in a reference center reduces the risk of relapse and death.

Assessment of resection margins in bone sarcoma treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Literature review and guidelines of the bone group (GROUPOS) of the French sarcoma group and bone tumor study group (GSF-GETO/RESOS)

BACKGROUND

Standardized reports are essential to meeting the bone sarcoma reference center certification requirements of the French National Cancer Institute (INCa). The usual classifications of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS), the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC/IUCC) TNM R classification and the American College of Pathologists, are inexact inasmuch as they fail to include chemotherapy impact on tumor cells in assessing surgical margins. This leads to inconsistent interpretation by teams managing bone sarcoma. The present literature analysis sought to assess the limitations of existing classifications for purposes of standardized reporting of the management of surgical specimens from patients with osteosarcoma or Ewing sarcoma receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, by addressing the following questions: 1) What is the prognostic value of margins and chemotherapy response in the classifications? 2) What are the histologic changes induced by chemotherapy, with what impact on interpretation of margins?

METHOD

A PubMed literature analysis was performed, targeting the prognostic value of resection margin assessment, in September 2018. French bone pathology group (Groupe français des pathologistes osseux) and international guidelines on bone specimen management were referred to so as select items for a standardized report. Eight of the 523 articles retrieved met the study eligibility criteria.

RESULTS

Minimal distance between tumor and surgical margin, with a>2mm threshold, seemed to be the optimal parameter for predicting local recurrence. Good chemotherapy response and appendicular skeletal location were associated with lower risk of local recurrence. None of the available classifications take into account the microscopic changes induced by chemotherapy in interpreting resection margins.

DISCUSSION

To standardize practice, GROUPOS developed a standardized report for bone sarcoma specimens, considering the histopathologic changes in the tumor after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The TNM R system was adapted and a threshold of>2mm was chosen as an acceptable limit to qualify surgical resection as safe (R0). R1 status (≤2mm) was subdivided into subgroups a, b and c, to include margin measurement in relation to the post-chemotherapy scar: R1a, resection within the scar; R1b, resection in healthy tissue,≤2mm from the scar and/or residual viable cells; and R1c, resection within the lesion in contact with viable cells or within coagulation necrosis areas. The GROUPOS members drew up this standardized report so as to ensure a common language, improving bone sarcoma management in specialized centers. Reliable data can thus be established for national and international multicenter studies.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Metabolic profile and neoadjuvant chemotherapy sensitivity in high-grade bone sarcoma

e22506

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with intercalated surgery is the standard of care for resectable high-grade bone sarcoma (BS) but identification of biomarkers for chemosensitivity prediction is still needed. Methods: We recruited 121 pts with new primary localized or metastatic BS, measured fasting blood glucose and insulin, body mass index (BMI). The HOMA-IR (Homeostasis Model Assessment) score ((Glucose (mmol/l) x Insulin) / 22.5), which has been proven to reliably detect insulin resistance was calculated, and patients with HOMA-IR > 2.6 were considered as insulin resistant (IR). We collected characteristics usually associated with insulin resistance (IR): age, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Results: Out of 121 pts, 48 (40%) were IR: HOMA-IR > 2.6. Thirty IR patients (62%) had no cardiovascular risk factor. In univariate analysis, IR was associated with obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2)(23% vs 3%, p = 0.0013), but not with age (median 38.4 vs 43.3 years, p = 0.15). IR was more prevalent in Ewing sarcoma (12/21; 57%) and chondrosarcoma (7/13; 54%) followed by osteosarcoma (25/61; 41%) and other rare bone sarcomas (4/26; 15.3%)(p = 0.037). After preoperative chemotherapy and surgery of Ewing tumor and osteosarcoma, pathologic tumor necrosis was higher in IR pts (85.8 vs 69.3%, p = 0.012). Using multivariate linear regression models, IR was independently associated with pathologic tumor necrosis (p = 0.042) but not with obesity (p = 0.55). Conclusions: Our results suggest that tumor-induced metabolic profile may help to discriminate best candidates for preoperative chemotherapy in high-grade bone sarcomas. Further studies are needed to confirm and explain these results.

Improved local relapse-free and overall survival with secondary surgery after a first R1 or R2 resection in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of the limbs or trunk wall: An analysis 10,931 patients (pts) in NETSARC

11056

Background: We previously reported that secondary resection (2Surg) improved local relapse free (LRFS) but not overall survival (OS) in a retrospective series of pts with localized STS after unplanned 1st excision. Here we investigated the impact of 2Surg specifically after a first R1 or R2 resection in the 10931 pts with STS of the limb or trunk wall included in the nationwide NETSARC database from 2010 to 2017. Methods: NETSARC (netsarc.org) is a network of 26 reference sarcoma centers with specialized multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDT), funded by the French NCI (INCa). Since 2010, presentation to an MDTB and second pathological review are mandatory for sarcoma pts. Statistics were performed with SPSS23.0. LRFS, metastasis-free survival (MFS), OS compared with the logrank test. Results: The series included 5598 (51.2%) males. Median age was 56.7. Tumor sites: 5295 (49.4%) lower limb, 3670 (33.6%) trunk wall. 1966 (18.0%) upper limb. As previously reported in the entire series, local RFS (LRFS) and RFS (p<0.001), but not OS, were superior for pts presented to a NETSARC MDT (NMDT), or operated in a NETSARC center (N=4417, 41%). LRFS & OS were best for pts presented to a NMDT AND operated in NETSARC centers; while the worst LRFS & OS were observed in pts presented in a NMDT but not operated there (p<0.001). Among the 2081 pts with a first R1 resection in whom 2Surg was documented, 1047 (50.3%) were reoperated. R1 reoperated pts had a superior LRFS, metastatic free survival (MFS) and OS (p<0.001). LRFS (p<0.001), MFS (p=0.05) and OS (p<0.001) were superior after 2Surg only in pts operated 1st outside a Netsarc center. There were 823 pts with a first surgery with R2 resection in whom 2Surg was documented: 619 (75.2%) were reoperated. R2 reoperated patients had a superior LRFS and OS (p=0.01). MFS was not different. LRFS (p<0.001) & OS (p<0.001) were superior after 2Surg only in pts operated 1st outside a Netsarc center. 2028 (%) pts had 2Surg. Pts for whom 2Surg was in a NetSARC center had a superior LRFS (p<0.001) and OS (p=0.01) when operated first outside a NETSARC center. Conclusions: In this nationwide series of limb or trunk wall STS, 2Surg after a R1 or R2 primary excision improves LRFS & OS when the pts were operated 1st outside a reference center. 2Surg in a NETSARC center was associated with a better LRFS and OS.

Sarcomas in patients over 90: Natural history and treatment-A nationwide study over 6 years

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare tumors accounting for less than 1% of human cancers. While the highest incidence of sarcomas is observed in elderly, this population is often excluded or poorly represented in clinical trials. The present study reports on clinicopathological presentation, and outcome of sarcoma patients over 90 recorded in the Netsarc.org French national database. NETSARC (netsarc.org) is a network of 26 reference sarcoma centers with specialized multidisciplinary tumor board (MDTB), funded by the French National Cancer Institute to improve the outcome of sarcoma patients. Since 2010, presentation to an MDTB, second pathological review, and collection of sarcoma patient characteristics and follow‐up are collected in a database Information of patients registered from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2016, in NETSARC were collected, analyzed and compared to the younger population. Patients with sarcomas aged >90 have almost exclusively sarcomas with complex genomics (92.0% vs. 66.3%), are less frequently metastatic (5.3% vs. 14·7%) at diagnosis, have more often superficial tumors (39.8% vs. 14.7%), as well as limbs and head and neck sites (75.2% vs. 38.7%) (all p < 0.001). Optimal diagnostic procedures and surgery were less frequently performed in patients over 90 (p < 0.001). These patients were less frequently operated in NETSARC centers, as compared to those of younger age groups including aged 80–90. However, local relapse‐free survival, metastatic relapse‐free survival and relapse‐free survival were not significantly different from those of younger patients, in the whole cohort, as well as in the subgroup of operated patients. As expected overall survival was worse in patients over 90 (p < 0.001). Patients over 90 who were not operated had worse overall survival than younger patients (9.9 vs. 27.3 months, p < 0.001). Patients with STS diagnosed after 90 have distinct clinicopathological features, but comparable relapse‐free survival, unless clinical practice guidelines recommendations are not applied. Standard management should be proposed to these patients if oncogeriatric status allows.

What's new?

While the highest incidence of soft‐tissue sarcoma (STS) is observed in the elderly, this population is often excluded or poorly represented in clinical trials. Therefore, little is known about the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of STS in these patients. In this study, the authors analyzed numerous clinical characteristics of patients with sarcoma diagnosed at age 91 or older. They conclude that standard STS management and clinical practice guidelines should be followed for these patients if possible.