Desmoid-type fibromatosis is a rare and locally aggressive monoclonal, fibroblastic proliferation characterized by a variable and often unpredictable clinical course. Currently, there is no ...established or evidence-based treatment approach available for this disease. Therefore, in 2015 the European Desmoid Working Group published a position paper giving recommendations on the treatment of this intriguing disease. Here, we present an update of this consensus approach based on professionals’ AND patients’ expertise following a round table meeting bringing together sarcoma experts from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group with patients and patient advocates from Sarcoma PAtients EuroNet. In this paper, we focus on new findings regarding the prognostic value of mutational analysis in desmoid-type fibromatosis patients and new systemic treatment options.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•This Clinical Practice Guideline provides key recommendations on the management of soft tissue and visceral sarcomas.•Recommendations have been agreed following a consensus meeting of ...representatives from ESMO, EURACAN and GENTURIS.•Authorship includes a multidisciplinary group of experts from several European institutions, India and Japan.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
In 2004, we started an intergroup randomized trial of adjuvant imatinib versus no further therapy after R0-R1 surgery in localized, high/intermediate-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) ...patients. Interim analysis results were published in 2015 upon recommendation from an independent data review committee. We report the final outcome of the study.
This was a randomized, open-label, multicenter phase III trial carried out at 112 hospitals in 12 countries. Patients were randomized to 2 years of imatinib, 400 mg daily, or no further therapy after surgery. The primary endpoint was imatinib failure-free survival (IFFS), while relapse-free survival (RFS), relapse-free interval (RFI), overall survival (OS) and toxicity were secondary endpoints. Adjusting for the interim analyses, results on IFFS were assessed on a 4.3% significance level; for the other endpoints, 5% was used.
Nine hundred and eight patients were randomized between January 2005 and October 2008: 454 to imatinib and 454 to observation; 835 patients were eligible. With a median follow-up of 9.1 years, 5 (10)-year IFFS was 87% (75%) in the imatinib arm versus 83% (74%) in the control arm hazard ratio (HR) = 0.87, 95.7% confidence interval (CI) (0.65; 1.15), P = 0.31; RFS was 70% versus 63% at 5 years and 63% versus 61% at 10 years, HR = 0.71, 95% CI (0.57; 0.89), P = 0.002; OS was 93% versus 92% at 5 years and 80% versus 78% at 10 years HR = 0.88, 95% CI (0.65; 1.21), P = 0.43. Among 526 patients with high-risk GIST by local pathology, 10-year IFFS and RFS were 69% versus 61%, and 48% versus 43%, respectively.
With 9.1 years of follow-up, a trend toward better long-term IFFS in imatinib-treated patients was observed in the high-risk subgroup. Although the difference was not statistically significant and the surrogacy value of such an endpoint is not validated, this may be seen as supporting the results reported by the Scandinavian/German trial, showing a sustained small but significant long-term OS benefit in high-risk GIST patients treated with 3 years of adjuvant imatinib.
•Adjuvant imatinib for 2 years significantly improved RFS, with a trend towards a better imatinib failure free survival.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The EORTC-STBSG coordinated two large trials of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) in localized high-grade soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Both studies failed to demonstrate any benefit on overall survival (OS). ...The aim of the analysis of these two trials was to identify subgroups of patients who may benefit from adjuvant CT.
Individual patient data from two EORTC trials comparing doxorubicin-based CT to observation only in completely resected STS (large resection, R0/marginal resection, R1) were pooled. Prognostic factors were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Patient outcomes were subsequently compared between the two groups of patients according to each analyzed factor.
A total of 819 patients had been enrolled with a median follow-up of 8.2 years. Tumor size, high histological grade and R1 resection emerged as independent adverse prognostic factors for relapse-free survival (RFS) and OS. Adjuvant CT is an independent favorable prognostic factor for RFS but not for OS. A significant interaction between benefit of adjuvant CT and age, gender and R1 resection was observed for RFS and OS. Males and patients >40 years had a significantly better RFS in the treatment arms, while adjuvant CT was associated with a marginally worse OS in females and patients <40years. Patients with R1 resection had a significantly better RFS and OS favoring adjuvant CT arms.
Adjuvant CT is not associated with a better OS in young patients or in any pathology subgroup. Poor quality of initial surgery is the most important prognostic and predictive factor for utility of adjuvant CT in STS. Based on these data, we conclude that adjuvant CT for STS remains an investigational procedure and is not a routine standard of care.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) is a rare monoclonal, fibroblastic proliferation characterised by a variable and often unpredictable clinical course. It may affect nearly all parts of the ...body including extremities, trunk and abdomen. Considering the variable clinical presentations, anatomic locations and biological behaviours, an individualised treatment approach is required. No established or evidence-based approach for the treatment of this neoplasm is available as of today. Therefore, we propose a consensus treatment algorithm based on a round table meeting bringing together sarcoma experts from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group (STBSG) with patient advocates from Sarcoma Patients EuroNet (SPAEN). The aim of the meeting was to develop – for the first time ever – a consensus approach based on professionals’ AND patients’ expertise. As a fundamental prerequisite, all patients should be discussed in a multidisciplinary setting in centres or professional networks with a specific expertise in the disease.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Background: The role of chemotherapy in advanced malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is unclear.
Patients and methods: Chemotherapy-naive soft tissue sarcomas (STS) patients treated on 12 ...pooled nonrandomized and randomized European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group trials were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical outcomes, overall survival, progression-free survival (PFS) and response were determined for MPNST and other STS histotypes and compared. Additionally, prognostic factors within the MPNST population were defined. Studied cofactors were demographics, sarcoma history, disease extent and chemotherapy regimen.
Results: After a median follow-up of 4.1 years, 175 MPNST out of 2675 eligible STS patients were analyzed. Outcome was similar for MPNST versus other STS histotypes, with a response rate, median PFS and overall survival of 21% versus 22%, 17 versus 16 weeks and 48 versus 51 weeks, respectively. Performance status was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. Chemotherapy regimen was an independent prognostic factor for response (P < 0.0001) and PFS (P = 0.009). Compared with standard first-line doxorubicin, the doxorubicin–ifosfamide regimen had the best response, whereas ifosfamide had the worst prognosis.
Conclusion: This series indicates the role of chemotherapy in treatment of advanced MPNST. This first comparison showed similar outcomes for MPNST and other STS histotypes. The apparent superiority of the doxorubicin–ifosfamide regimen justifies further investigations of this combination in randomized trials.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract Objectives Dual-energy CT (DECT) allows quantification of intravenously injected iodinated contrast media in tumors, and therefore may be considered as a surrogate marker for perfusion and ...tumor vascularity. This study evaluated whether newly developed DECT response criteria allow better correlation with survival than established response criteria. Methods Seventeen patients with advanced GIST treated with tyrosine-kinase-inhibitors were assessed by contrast-enhanced DECT 2 and 6 months after beginning of treatment. Response to treatment of 165 tumor lesions was evaluated according to RECIST, Choi criteria and newly developed DECT criteria, defining non-responders as an increase of both tumor size >20% and iodine related attenuation or either a >50% increase of tumor size or iodine related attenuation. All other patients were classified as responders. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated by Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results Choi criteria and DECT showed a significantly longer median PFS of patients rated as responders than patients rated as non-responders (9–29 months vs. 2–6 months; p < 0.02) at follow-up. Only DECT analysis at 6 months follow-up allowed a valid prediction of OS. Conclusion This study indicates that DECT allows a better prediction of therapeutic benefit in advanced GIST patients treated with tyrosine-kinase-inhibitors than established response criteria. However, the most important predictive biomarker of therapeutic benefit was absence of progression, no matter which response evaluation criteria were applied.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK