Unraveling Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis-Specific Health-Related Quality of Life: Who Is at Risk for Poor Outcomes

Desmoid Fibromatosis of the Anterior Abdominal Wall in Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

A desmoid tumor (DT) is a rare benign neoplasm arising from muscle aponeurosis, associated mostly with trauma or pregnancy. DT has an infiltrative and locally aggressive growth pattern and usually does not metastasize. However, it has a high recurrence and complication rate. When it occurs in pregnancy, the pregnancy and delivery is taken as an individual case for optimal management by physicians and midwifes, who need to be cautious in finding the optimal delivery mode for the patient, which depends on the tumor size, location, behavior, and past history. The authors report a case of 29-year-old pregnant woman who previously underwent systemic oncological treatment for a large abdominal wall desmoid tumor and became pregnant afterwards. The history of DT presented a follow-up and delivery challenge. Observational management was chosen with an elective cesarean section at week 38 + 4 of pregnancy with uncomplicated postpartum follow-up. The authors detail the clinical management and chosen therapeutic approach; chemotherapy can be a choice in the treatment options for patients with DTs, although the majority of DTs are treated surgically with subsequent mesh plastic. Moreover, the authors provide a systematic review of the literature focused on the treatment management of DTs in pregnant women during pregnancy and the postpartum period, as pregnancy-associated desmoid tumors are a specific condition, where the optimal management is not well established, despite some guidelines for non-pregnant patients.

Does the Addition of Mutations of CTNNB1 S45F to Clinical Factors Allow Prediction of Local Recurrence in Patients With a Desmoid Tumor? A Local Recurrence Risk Model

BACKGROUND

The initial approach to the treatment of desmoid tumors has changed from surgical resection to watchful waiting. However, surgery is still sometimes considered for some patients, and it is likely that a few patients would benefit from tumor removal if the likelihood of local recurrence could be predicted. However, to our knowledge, there is no tool that can provide guidance on this for clinicians at the point of care.

QUESTION/PURPOSE

We sought to explore whether a combined molecular and clinical prognostic model for relapse in patients with desmoid tumors treated with surgery would allow us to identify patients who might do well with surgical excision.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, single-center study of 107 patients with desmoid tumors who were surgically treated between January 1980 and December 2015, with a median follow-up of 106 months (range 7 to 337 months). We correlated clinical variables (age, tumor size, and localization) and CTNNB1 gene mutations with recurrence-free survival. Recurrence-free survival was estimated using a Kaplan-Meier curve. Univariate and multivariable analyses of time to local recurrence were performed using Cox regression models. A final nomogram model was constructed according to the final fitted Cox model. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated using measures of calibration and discrimination: calibration plot and the Harrell C-statistic, also known as the concordance index, in which values near 0.5 represent a random prediction and values near 1 represent the best model predictions.

RESULTS

The multivariable analysis showed that S45F mutations (hazard ratio 5.25 [95% confidence interval 2.27 to 12.15]; p < 0.001) and tumor in the extremities (HR 3.15 [95% CI 1.35 to 7.33]; p = 0.008) were associated with a higher risk of local recurrence. Based on these risk factors, we created a model; we observed that patients considered to be at high risk of local recurrence as defined by having one or two factors associated with recurrence (extremity tumors and S45F mutation) had an HR of 8.4 compared with patients who had no such factors (95% CI 2.84 to 24.6; p < 0.001). From these data and based on the multivariable Cox models, we also developed a nomogram to estimate the individual risk of relapse after surgical resection. The model had a concordance index of 0.75, or moderate discrimination.

CONCLUSION

CTNNB1 S45F mutations combined with other clinical variables are a potential prognostic biomarker associated with the risk of relapse in patients with desmoid tumors. The developed nomogram is simple to use and, if validated, could be incorporated into clinical practice to identify patients at high risk of relapse among patients opting for surgical excision and thus help clinicians and patients in decision-making. A large multicenter study is necessary to validate our model and explore its applicability.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, therapeutic study.

Desmoid Tumors: A Comprehensive Review

Desmoid tumors (DT) are rare, locally aggressive, fibroblastic soft-tissue tumors that are characterized by infiltrative growth and can affect organs and adjacent structures, resulting in substantial clinical burden impacting patients' health-related quality of life. Searches of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and key conferences were conducted in November 2021 and updated periodically through March 2023 to identify articles describing the burden of DT. Of 651 publications identified, 96 relevant ones were retained. Diagnosis of DT is challenging because of its morphologic heterogeneity and variable clinical presentation. Patients visit multiple healthcare providers, often facing delays in correct diagnosis. The low incidence of DT (estimated 3-5 cases per million person-years) limits disease awareness. Patients with DT experience a high symptom burden: up to 63% of patients experience chronic pain, which leads to sleep disturbance (73% of cases), irritability (46% of cases), and anxiety/depression (15% of cases). Frequently mentioned symptoms are pain, limited function and mobility, fatigue, muscle weakness, and swelling around the tumor. Overall, quality of life in patients with DT is lower than in healthy controls. There is no treatment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for DT; however, treatment guidelines reference available options, such as active surveillance, surgery, systemic therapy, and locoregional therapy. Choice of active treatment may depend on tumor location, symptoms, and risk of morbidity. The substantial burden of illness of DT is related to difficulties in timely and accurate diagnosis, high symptom burden (pain and functional limitations), and decreased quality of life. There is a high unmet need for treatments that specifically target DT and improve quality of life.

Health-related Quality of Life of Patients With Non-Intra-abdominal Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis During Active Surveillance: Results of a Prospective Observational Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of an active surveillance (AS) approach on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with desmoid-type fibromatosis (DTF).

BACKGROUND DATA

AS is recommended as initial approach in DTF patients. AS might however negatively affect HRQoL due to physical symptoms or stress and anxiety.

METHODS

In a prospective observational study, the GRAFITI trial (NTR4714), DTF patients were followed during an initial AS approach for 3 years. HRQoL was assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 at baseline, 6, 12 and 24-month follow-up. Patients who completed questionnaires at≥1-time point were included in this analysis of the secondary endpoint. A multivariable linear mixed-effects model with random intercept was conducted to assess trends of HRQoL scores over time and to explore the effect of treatment strategy on HRQoL.

RESULTS

All 105 patients enrolled in the GRAFITI trial were eligible for the HRQoL analyses. During 24-month follow-up, 75 patients (71%) continued AS and 30 patients (29%) started an active treatment (AT). DTF patients who continued AS demonstrated relatively stable HRQoL scores during follow-up. HRQoL scores of patients who started AT worsened compared to patients who continued AS, although no significant changes in HRQoL score over time were found in the mixed-model analyses. Overall, DTF patients who started AT scored significantly worse on pain (β=10.08, P =0.039) compared to patients who continued AS.

CONCLUSIONS

An initial AS approach did not impair HRQoL of DTF patients who continued AS over time, therefore providing further support for AS as the frontline approach in DTF patients. Longitudinal assessment of HRQoL should be part of clinical follow-up to identify patients who may need a change in treatment strategy.