Pulmonary metastasectomy in soft tissue sarcomas: a systematic review

Does Size Outweigh Number in Predicting Survival After Pulmonary Metastasectomy for Soft Tissue Sarcoma? Insights from a Retrospective Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) is the most frequently performed local ablative therapy for leiomyosarcoma (LMS), synovial sarcoma (SyS), and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS). This study aimed to assess surgical feasibility, outcome, and clinical prognostic factors, as well as the value of a peri-interventional systemic therapy.

METHODS

This multicenter retrospective study enrolled 77 patients with LMS, SyS, or UPS who underwent first-time complete resection of isolated lung metastases between 2009 and 2021. Disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and clinical prognostic factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

After the first PM, the median DFS was 7.4 months, and the median OS was 58.7 months. A maximal lesion diameter greater than 2 cm was associated with reduced DFS in both the univariable (hazard ratio [HR], 2.29; p = 0.006) and multivariable (HR, 2.60; p = 0.005) analyses. The univariable analysis identified a maximal lesion diameter greater than 2 cm as an adverse prognostic factor for OS (HR, 5.6; p < 0.001), whereas a treatment-free interval longer than 12 months was associated with improved OS (HR, 0.42; p = 0.032). The addition of systemic therapy was associated with a trend toward improved DFS for patients with lesions larger than 2 cm (HR, 0.29; p = 0.063). Severe postoperative complications (grade ≥IIIa) occurred in 2 % of the patients.

CONCLUSION

The size of resected lung metastases might be a more relevant prognostic factor than their number for patients with LMS, SyS, or UPS. For patients with lung metastases larger than 2 cm in maximal diameter, additional systemic therapy may be warranted.

Ibero-American Consensus for the Management of Liver Metastases of Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Updated Review and Clinical Recommendations

Liver metastases from soft tissue sarcoma (STS) (excluding gastrointestinal stromal tumors) are rare and more commonly arise from retroperitoneal and intra-abdominal primary sites. Chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment for disseminated disease, but its effectiveness is limited and patients typically have a dismal prognosis with short survival. However, when metastases are confined to the liver (without pulmonary involvement), some patients may benefit from local techniques, either surgical or nonsurgical, that can provide long periods of disease-free survival. Due to the rarity of STS, especially with liver metastases, and the heterogeneity of histologies and biological behavior, there is a lack of standardized treatment guidelines and universally accepted criteria for this specific setting. To fill this gap, a multidisciplinary working group of experts in sarcoma and liver surgery reviewed the literature and available evidence and developed a set of clinical recommendations to be voted and discussed in the I Ibero-American Consensus on the Management of Metastatic Sarcoma, held at the III Spanish-Portuguese Update Meeting on the Treatment of Sarcomas in May 2024. Herein, the voting results of this meeting and the resulting consensus recommendations are presented, and their applicability, strengths, and limitations are discussed.

SEOM-GEIS Spanish clinical guidelines for the management of soft‑tissue sarcomas (2024)

Soft-tissue sarcomas are rare, diverse malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin, requiring diagnosis and treatment by a specialized multidisciplinary team. Initial assessment includes radiology and biopsy, followed by wide surgical resection with clear margins for localized cases. Radiotherapy is recommended for large, deep, high-grade tumors or after incomplete resection, while perioperative chemotherapy may be considered for high-risk cases. In oligometastatic disease, combining local and systemic therapies is an option. Anthracycline-based chemotherapy is the first-line treatment in advanced disease, though other drugs show efficacy in certain subtypes. Given the limited options, enrolling in clinical trials is advised for patients needing further treatment.

Evaluation of Surgical Cases of Lung Cancer Admitted in Shiraz Referral Hospitals, Southern Iran in 2009-2022

INTRODUCTION

Globally, lung cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and continues to take the lead in cancer-related mortality rates. This study aims to provide the latest statistics on the clinical, histopathological, and epidemiological features of lung cancer patients who underwent surgical resection in referral hospitals in Southern Iran.

METHOD

In this retrospective study, records of all patients with operable primary and secondary lung cancer who underwent surgical resection of the lung in Shiraz hospitals, located in Southern Iran from November 2009 to May 2022 were screened. Data on demographic, clinical, surgical, and pathological characteristics were analyzed by SPSS software.

RESULTS

A total of 232 patients with operable lung cancer, including 150 (64.7%) primary cases and 82 (35.3%) secondary cases, underwent 249 operations. The mean age of primary and secondary lung cancer patients was 56.70 ± 13.99 and 45.56 ± 18.88, respectively (p < 0.001). Males accounted for 54.0% and 58.5% of primary and secondary lung cancer patients, respectively. Adenocarcinoma was the most frequent primary pathology, while sarcomas were the most common metastatic lesions. The predominant presenting symptoms were cough (n = 75, 75.0%) and dyspnea (n = 31, 59.7%) in primary and secondary cases, respectively. Involvement of the right lung was more frequent in both groups (65.5% and 53.1% for primary and secondary cases respectively). The most commonly performed surgeries were lobectomy (69.9%) and limited resection (69.8%) for primary and secondary lesions, respectively. Cigarette smoking and extensive resection had a significant association with the in-hospital mortality rate (p = 0.012 and 0.009 respectively). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 3.6% (n = 9).

CONCLUSION

Surgical interventions were mostly performed in men and histopathologic subtypes of primary lung adenocarcinoma, metastatic soft tissue sarcoma, and metastatic colon cancer. Smoking and extensive resection accompany a higher risk of short-term postoperative mortality.

Effects of location of primary tumor on survival after pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The benefit of pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with isolated lung metastases remains unclear, and failure to separate colon from rectal cancer may contribute. Using a large national database, we investigate whether PM is associated with survival benefits in patients presenting with CRC with synchronous lung metastases based on primary tumor location.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2010 to 2015 was queried to identify patients with stage IV CRC with isolated synchronous lung metastases at initial diagnosis. These patients were restricted to include only those in which the location of the primary tumor being either colon or rectum could be conclusively identified, and the primary site was resected. SEER-Medicare linked claims were also queried to identify cases of PM that were not adequately recorded in SEER alone. Patients were then analyzed using Kaplan-Meier (K-M) methods and multivariate analysis was performed to identify variables associated with overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

From the SEER database 185,871 patients with metastatic CRC were identified. Only 588 had isolated synchronous lung metastases, with 441 with colon cancer and 147 with rectal cancer. PM was performed in 15.3% (n = 90) with two-thirds being colon cancer. Univariate K-M demonstrated worse OS for rectal cancer than colon cancer, which remained significant on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

OS is associated with the site of primary CRC in patients undergoing PM. Distinct mutational and molecular characteristics differences between colon and rectal cancer may explain these findings and are an area for future research.

Maintenance treatment with trofosfamide in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma - a retrospective single-centre analysis

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) remains dismal. Trofosfamide (TRO) has been proposed as a well-tolerated oral maintenance therapy. This retrospective analysis aims to determine the value of this therapy.

METHODS

Fifty-nine patients with advanced STS who received TRO maintenance therapy between 2016 and 2022 were reviewed and analysed regarding clinical parameters and outcomes.

RESULTS

The median age was 48 years; the most common histological subtype was synovial sarcoma (n = 22, 37%), and 71% of patients (n = 42) presented with metastatic disease. No radiological evidence of disease (NED) before the start of maintenance was reported in 36% of patients (n = 21). The median follow-up was 38.2 months with a median maintenance duration of 9.0 months. The median event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 9.5 and 33.2 months, respectively. In metastatic patients achieving NED before the initiation of TRO, the median EFS was 29.4 months, while the median OS was not reached. In metastatic patients with anthracycline + ifosfamide (AI) as first-line induction therapy without prior metastasis-directed local therapy, the median EFS and OS from the start of AI were 13.9 and 26.8 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis of the overall cohort demonstrated that NED before the start of maintenance was significantly associated with a prolonged EFS (p = 0.024, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.26), and G2 histology correlated with longer OS (p = 0.030, HR = 0.16, reference: G3).

INTERPRETATION

Oral maintenance therapy with TRO appears to improve outcomes in patients with advanced STS. Metastatic patients who achieve NED through prior metastasectomy may particularly benefit from TRO maintenance.

The Role of Pulmonary Metastasectomy for Non-Primary Lung Cancer: Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Due to heterogeneous characteristics of primary cancers, the efficacy of pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) in nonprimary lung cancers has not been investigated. This study aims to investigate the clinical outcomes of PM for non-primary lung cancer.

METHODS

A systematic search for meta-analyses on PM for nonprimary lung cancers was conducted, encompassing publications up to January 3, 2024. This included seven primary cancers: renal cell, breast, adrenocortical, head and neck cancers, melanoma, germ cell tumors, and sarcoma. Overall survival and recurrence rates post-PM were assessed using random-effect models.

RESULTS

This study included 16 systematic-review articles and 101 individual studies, involving 10 277 patients who underwent PM for nonprimary lung cancer. About half of the patients (47.1%) presented with multiple metastasis, and complete resection achieved in 87.2% [95% CI: 83.0-90.8]. The pooled 5-year overall survival rate post-PM was 41.2% [95%CI: 37.1%-45.4%]. Patients with germ cell tumors demonstrated higher survival rate (p < 0.05), while melanoma exhibited the worst outcome (p < 0.05). During follow-up, 57.6% [95% CI: 46.4-68.1] had recurrence; 48% of them had intrathoracic-only recurrence.

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the survival benefits associated with PM. Overall survival rates following PM did not differ based on primary cancer types. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing and incorporating PM into clinical practice when appropriate.

Unraveling the role of local ablative therapies for patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma - A retrospective multicenter study of the Bavarian university hospitals

BACKGROUND

Local ablative therapies (LAT) are increasingly used in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS), yet evidence-based standards are lacking. This study aimed to assess the impact of LAT on survival of metastatic STS patients and to identify prognostic factors.

METHODS

In this retrospective multicenter study, 246 STS patients with metastatic disease who underwent LAT on tumor board recommendation between 2017 and 2021 were analyzed. A mixed effects model was applied to evaluate multiple survival events per patient.

RESULTS

Median overall survival (OS) after first metastasis was 5.4 years with 1-, 2- and 5-year survival rates of 93.7, 81.7, and 53.1 %, respectively. A treatment-free interval ≥12 months and treatment of liver metastases were positively correlated with progression-free survival (PFS) after LAT (HR = 0.61, p = 0.00032 and HR = 0.52, p = 0.0081, respectively). A treatment-free interval ≥12 months and treatment of metastatic lesions in a single organ site other than lung and liver were positive prognostic factors for OS after first LAT (HR = 0.50, p = 0.028 and HR = 0.40, p = 0.026, respectively) while rare histotypes and LAT other than surgery and radiotherapy were negatively associated with OS after first LAT (HR = 2.56, p = 0.020 and HR = 3.87, p = 0.025). Additional systemic therapy was independently associated with a PFS benefit in patients ≤60 years with ≥4 metastatic lesions (for max. diameter of treated lesions ≤2 cm: HR = 0.32, p = 0.02 and >2 cm: HR = 0.20, p = 0.0011, respectively).

CONCLUSION

This multicenter study conducted at six German university hospitals underlines the value of LAT in metastatic STS. The exceptionally high survival rates are likely to be associated with patient selection and treatment in specialized sarcoma centers.

The Landmark Series: Multimodal Management of Oligometastatic Sarcoma

The concept of "oligometastatic" disease suggests the presence of intermediate states between localized disease and widespread metastases, which may be potentially treatable with curative therapeutic strategies. Metastases local therapy (MLT) can be accomplished through various techniques such as stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), cryoablation, or surgical metastasectomy. The incorporation of MLT in the multidisciplinary treatment of patients with metastatic sarcoma is complex. Retrospective studies support consideration of MLT for selected patients based on factors such as patient condition, disease biology, histologic type, and disease burden. Decisions regarding type and timing of MLT should be made after multidisciplinary discussion including radiation oncologists, surgical and orthopedic oncologists, medical oncologists, and interventional radiology to explore all options before treatment decsions. All MLT techniques have advantages and disadvantages and should be performed in centers specialized in the care of complex oncology patients where various options can be explored concurrently or sequentially for each patient. Future studies evaluating quality of life and patient-reported outcomes are necessary to adequately align patient goals and optimal outcomes. This article reviews the medical scenarios that may benefit the use of MLT, evaluates the distinct advantages and disadvantages associated with these various techniques, and analyzes the findings from pivotal series to provide a comprehensive understanding of its role in clinical practice.

Special Issue: "Pediatric Orthopedic Malignancy: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment"

Pediatric orthopedic malignancies are extremely rare and require appropriate diagnosis and treatment by a multidisciplinary team [...].

Management Strategies for Adults with Locally Advanced, Unresectable or Metastatic Malignant Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor (PEComa): Challenges and Solutions

PEComa (PEC tumor; perivascular epithelioid cell tumors) is a rare group of tumors of mesenchymal origin composed of perivascular epithelioid cells (PEC) with features of melanotic and smooth muscle differentiation. In this article, we would like to present the current treatment options for this group of tumors. PEComas are classified as tumors of uncertain malignant potential because recurrences occur after radical treatment. The primary treatment is surgical resection with negative margins. Due to the different locations of the tumors, often the cooperation of multispecialty surgeons is required during the operations. In locally advanced cases, cytoreduction and HIPEC may be effective but still are an experimental treatment. For nonresectable PEComa chemotherapy, mTOR inhibitors and VEGFR inhibitors are used.

Local Therapies for Metastatic Sarcoma: Why, When, and How?

Management of patients with advanced sarcoma has been evolving in recent decades, from a one-fit-all perspective to a more refined, personalized, and multidisciplinary approach. In parallel, the evolution of local therapies (radiotherapy, surgical and interventional radiology techniques) has contributed to the improvement of survival of patients with advanced sarcoma. In this article, we review the evidence regarding local treatments in advanced sarcoma, as well as its integration with systemic therapies, to provide the reader a wider and deeper perspective on the management of patients with metastatic sarcoma.

Surgical resection of primary leiomyosarcoma of retro-hepatic inferior vena cava extending from bilateral renal veins across the diaphragm

Vascular leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is a rare malignant soft tissue tumor that requires surgical treatment to prevent tumor-related symptoms such as pulmonary embolism and Budd-Chiari syndrome. However, a treatment strategy for surgical resection of advanced cases has not yet been determined. This report describes the case of advanced leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava that was successfully treated with surgery and subsequent chemotherapy. A 44-year-old man was found to have a 12 × 10 cm retroperitoneal tumor on computed tomography. The tumor originated in the inferior vena cava and extended beyond the diaphragm into the renal vein. The surgical plan was determined in joint consultation with the multidisciplinary team. It was safely resected and the inferior vena cava was closed caudal to the porta hepatis without a synthetic graft. The tumor was diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma. Doxorubicin, followed by pazopanib were administered as treatment for metastatic disease. Eighteen months after the surgery, the patient's performance status was maintained.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for lung metastases from sarcoma in oligometastatic patients: a phase 2 study

PURPOSE

Lung is the most frequent site of metastasis in sarcoma patients. Pulmonary metastasectomy is the most common treatment performed. Stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT) has proven to be a potential alternative to resection. We aimed to assess role of SBRT for lung metastatic patients in a prospective phase 2 study.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Adults patients with lung metastasis(LMs) up to 4, ≤5cm, unsuitable for surgery were included. Dose prescription was based on site and size: 30Gy/1fraction for peripheral lesions ≤10mm, 60 Gy/3fractions for peripheral lesions 11-20mm, 48 Gy/4fractions for peripheral lesions >20mm, and 60 Gy/8fractions for central lesions. Primary endpoint was proportion of treated lesions free from progression at 12 months. Secondary endpoints were disease free survival(DFS), overall survival(OS), and toxicity.

RESULTS

Between March 2015, and December 2020, 44 patients for 71 LMs were enrolled. Twelve-month local control was 98.5%±1.4, reaching primary aim; median DFS time,1,2,3,4,5-year PFS rates were 12 months(95%CI 8-16 months), 50%±7.5, 19.5%±6.6, 11.7%±5.8, 11.7%±5.8, and 11.7%±5.8, respectively. Median OS time,1,2,3,4,5-year OS rates were 49 months(95%CI 24-49 months), 88.6%±4.7, 66.7±7.6, 56.8%±8.4, 53.0%±8.6, and 48.2%±9.1, respectively. Prognostic factors recorded as significantly impacting survival were age, grade of primary sarcoma, interval time from diagnosis to occurrence of LMs, and number of LMs. No severe pulmonary toxicity(grade 3-4) occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a local control of LMs in almost all patients treated, with negligible toxicity. Survival was also highly satisfactory. Well-designed randomized trials comparing surgery with SBRT for lung metastatic sarcoma patients are needed to confirm this preliminary data.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier XXXXXX.

Prognostic Factors of Pulmonary Metastasectomy for Soft Tissue Sarcomas Arising in the Trunk Wall and Extremities

Although there is no evidence from prospective randomized controlled trials to support this practice, pulmonary metastases of sarcomas are often treated surgically if they are resectable. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prognostic factors and outcome of pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) for soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) arising in the trunk wall and extremities in 66 consecutive patients. Prognostic factors associated with disease-specific survival after PM were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. The patients included 38 men and 28 women, with a median age of 49 years. The median disease-specific survival after PM was 48 months, and the 5-year survival rate was 45%. No major perioperative complications occurred. Disease-free interval (<12 months), size of largest lung lesion (≥20 mm), and non-curative resection were independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. PM was effective in selected patients with pulmonary metastases from STSs arising in the trunk wall and extremities. Disease-free interval, maximum size of metastases, and resectability were identified as prognostic factors.

The Role of Trabectedin in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Background: Systemic chemotherapy for advanced disease is another therapeutic option in the management of metastases in soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Doxorubicin either alone or in combination with ifosfamide has been used as first-line chemotherapy. Furthermore, in the past decade, new drugs have been shown to be effective in the treatment of advanced STS after the failure of first-line anthracycline-based chemotherapy: trabectedin, pazopanib and eribulin. However, the appropriate usage of these agents has not been established. Methods: We summarized clinical trials of trabectedin focusing on the efficacy and toxicity of trabectedin in the treatment of STS. Results: Trabectedin can be administered safely and effectively to the patients with advanced STS at second line setting or later. Although trabectedin may be effective as first-line treatment in selected patients, anthracycline-based chemotherapy should be recommended because no regimen in addition to trabectedin has proved to be unequivocally superior to doxorubicin as the first-line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic STS. Nucleotide excision repair (NER) and homologous recombination (HRe) repair may be of particular importance as efficacy of trabectedin. Conclusion: Trabectedin has shown a favorable toxicity profile and is an alternative therapeutic option in patients with advanced STS.

Treatment Strategy for Elderly Patients with Soft Tissue Sarcoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Surgical resection is the standard treatment for localized soft tissue sarcoma (STS), while systemic chemotherapy for advanced STS may be considered. However, less aggressive treatment is often administered to elderly patients with STS. Undertreatment may compromise the cure rate and survival of these individuals. We review the literatures and emphasize the importance of standard treatment for STS in elderly patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

The outcome of surgical resection of STS in older individuals is comparable to that of younger ones, as long as patients are selected based on American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS). Likewise, systemic treatment may prove beneficial as long as the risk of complications is estimated with a geriatric assessment. Elderly patients with STS benefit from standard treatment as long as the risks of surgical and systemic complications are assessed respectively with the ASA-PS and GA. Novel clinical trials with broader eligibility criteria are also necessary for elderly patients because of the increasing population of the elderly patients in the future.

Clinical Outcome in Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients with Lung Metastasis Who Received Metastasectomy and/or Radiofrequency Ablation: Tokai Musculoskeletal Oncology Consortium Study

Purpose

Here, we investigated the oncological outcomes of lung metastasectomy and/or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of 92 patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) at nine institutions.

Methods

The study cohort included 65 men and 27 women with a mean age of 59 years at the time of metastasis. The mean follow-up duration was 51 months. All patients underwent metastasectomy and/or RFA for lung metastasis.

Results

The mean maximum size of the initial lung metastasis was 14.6 mm. At the initial evaluation, 41 patients had a single metastasis, whereas 51 patients had multiple metastases. The mean number of metastasectomies and/or RFA was 2 per patient. A total of 70 patients underwent lung metastasectomy, whereas the other 13 underwent lung RFA. The remaining nine patients underwent both RFA and metastasectomy. The 5-year post-metastatic survival rate was 52%. The patients who underwent complete treatment for the initial metastasis had better post-metastatic survival rates than those who underwent incomplete treatment. A univariate analysis of all possible prognostic factors for complete treatment confirmed the predictive value of disease-free interval, metastasis at initial presentation, distribution, tumor size, and number of lung metastases. Of the 92 patients, 74 underwent complete treatment for initial metastasis; in these patients, univariate and multivariate analyses showed that a smaller tumor size and single-lung metastasis were prognostic factors for superior post-metastatic survival. The patients with a smaller (<11.5 mm) single metastasis had better post-metastasis survival. The 5-year post-metastatic survival rates were 89.9% for patients with a smaller (<11.5 mm) single metastasis versus 22.7% for patients with larger (>11.5 mm) and multiple metastases.

Discussion

We propose that complete treatment for lung metastasis in patients with STS may improve post-metastatic survival rates. Furthermore, tumor number and size are important variables for clinical decision-making.

Novel Insights into the Immunotherapy of Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Do We Need a Change of Perspective?

Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are rare mesenchymal tumors. With more than 80 histological subtypes of STSs, data regarding novel biomarkers of strong prognostic and therapeutic value are very limited. To date, the most important prognostic factor is the tumor grade, and approximately 50% of patients that are diagnosed with high-grade STSs die of metastatic disease within five years. Systemic chemotherapy represents the mainstay of metastatic STSs treatment for decades but induces response in only 15–35% of the patients, irrespective of the histological subtype. In the era of immunotherapy, deciphering the immune cell signatures within the STSs tumors may discriminate immunotherapy responders from non-responders and different immunotherapeutic approaches could be combined based on the predominant cell subpopulations infiltrating the STS tumors. Furthermore, understanding the immune diversity of the STS tumor microenvironment (TME) in different histological subtypes may provide a rationale for stratifying patients according to the TME immune parameters. In this review, we introduce the most important immune cell types infiltrating the STSs tumors and discuss different immunotherapies, as well as promising clinical trials, that would target these immune cells to enhance the antitumor immune responses and improve the prognosis of metastatic STSs patients.