title: Intra-arterial adriamycin, conventionally fractionated radiotherapy and conservative surgery for soft tissue sarcomas.
abstract: Thirteen patients with soft tissue sarcomas were treated with a combination of intra-arterial Adriamycin, conventionally fractionated radiotherapy (2 Gy per day), and conservative surgery (trimodal therapy). Severe acute complications occurred in 10 patients: 3 brachial artery thromboses, 6 delayed wound healing, 4 wound infections, and 3 cases of necrosis of the skin plus subcutaneous tissues. Three patients have developed local recurrence. Five patients are alive, 4 of whom are disease-free, and the median follow up time of surviving patients is 56 months. One has significant impairment of limb function due to joint ankylosis. An additional 2 patients were treated with intra-arterial Adriamycin and conservative surgery for local recurrence after previous surgery and radiotherapy; both died of subsequent metastatic disease, one having a further local recurrence. One patient with multifocal angiosarcoma was treated with intra-arterial Adriamycin and radiotherapy but no surgery, and is alive free of disease 49 months later. The combination of radiotherapy and intra-arterial Adriamycin with surgery resulted in significant acute toxicity. This small study has not demonstrated any improvement in local control compared with that expected with conservative surgery and radiotherapy alone.
authors.affiliation: Sarcoma Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harmer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Westbury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin