Clinicopathological prognostic factors of superficial non-small round cell soft tissue sarcomas

摘要

Background We undertook this study to assess the therapeutic results of superficial soft tissue sarcomas as related to the presence of microscopic invasion, and to identify prognostic factors so as to optimize the therapeutic strategy. Methods From 1995 to 2008, 105 patients who were treated surgically for superficial non-small round cell soft tissue sarcoma were investigated with regard to clinical results and microscopic invasion, and the influence exerted on prognosis was analyzed. We analyzed overall, metastasis-free, and local recurrence-free survival rates and determined the difference in survivorship between with and without fascia invasion. Results The 5-year overall survival rate and 5-year disease-free survival rate were 95.3% and 81.8%. For overall survival, age (P<0.05), grade (P<0.05), tumor size (P<0.05), and fascial invasion (P<0.0001) were significant unfavorable prognostic factors, while for metastasis-free survival, grade (P<0.01) and fascial invasion (P<0.001) were significant unfavorable prognostic factors. For local recurrence-free survival, fascial invasion alone (P<0.01) was a significant unfavorable prognostic factor. Conclusions Fascial invasion on pathological examination of resected specimens was identified as a significant unfavorable prognostic factor. Selecting the postoperative adjuvant therapy based on a detailed evaluation of any fascial invasion is an important part of the therapeutic strategy.