Clinical Features of High-Grade Extremity and Trunk Sarcomas in Patients Aged 80 Years and Older: Why Are Outcomes Inferior?

oleh: Jungo Imanishi, Jungo Imanishi, Jungo Imanishi, Lester W. M. Chan, Lester W. M. Chan, Matthew L. Broadhead, Grant Pang, Grant Pang, Samuel Y. Ngan, Samuel Y. Ngan, John Slavin, Stephen Sharp, Peter F. M. Choong, Peter F. M. Choong, Peter F. M. Choong

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Frontiers Media S.A. 2019-05-01

Deskripsi

Background: The population of many countries is aging and a significant number of elderly patients with soft-tissue sarcoma are being seen at cancer centers. The unique therapeutic and prognostic implications of treating soft-tissue sarcoma in geriatric patients warrant further consideration in order to optimize outcomes.Patients and Methods: This is a single-institution retrospective study of consecutive non-metastatic primary extremity and trunk high-grade sarcomas surgically treated between 1996 and 2012, with at least 2 years of follow-up for survivors. Patient characteristics and oncological outcomes were compared between age groups (≥80 vs. <80 years), using Chi-square or Fisher-exact test and Log-Rank or Wilcoxon test, respectively. Deaths from other causes were censored for disease-specific survival estimation. A p< 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.Results: A total of 333 cases were eligible for this study. Thirty-six patients (11%) were aged ≥80 years. Unplanned surgery incidence and surgical margin status were comparable between the age groups. Five-year local-recurrence-free, metastasis-free and disease-specific survivals were 72% (≥80 years) vs. 90% (<80 years) (p = 0.004), 59 vs. 70% (p = 0.07) and 55 vs. 80% (p < 0.001), respectively. A significantly earlier first metastasis after surgery (8.3 months vs. 20.5 months, mean) and poorer survival after first metastasis (p = 0.03) were observed. Cox analysis revealed “age ≥80 years” as an independent risk factor for local failure and disease-specific mortality, with hazard ratios of 2.41 (95% CI: 1.09–5.32) and 2.52 (1.33–4.13), respectively. A competing risks analysis also showed that “age ≥80 years” was significantly associated with the disease-specific mortality.Conclusions: Oncological outcomes were significantly worse in high-grade sarcoma patients aged ≥80 years. The findings of more frequent local failure regardless of a consistent primary treatment strategy, an earlier time to first metastasis after surgery, and poorer prognosis after first metastasis suggest that more aggressive tumor biology, in addition to multiple co-morbidity, may explain the inferiority.