title: Limb salvage in extremity soft-tissue sarcoma: combined modality therapy.
abstract: Thirty-two consecutive patients with high-grade soft-tissue sarcoma of an extremity were treated preoperatively with concomitant intra-arterial infusion of Adriamycin (doxorubicin) (10 mg/m2 daily for 10 days) and radiotherapy (2500 rad [25 Gy] in 10 fractions in 2 weeks). En bloc resection was then performed. Postoperatively, depending on the surgical specimen findings, radiotherapy was given to a dose ranging from 5000 rad (50 Gy) in 5 weeks to 6000 rad (60 Gy) in 6 weeks equivalent continuous schedules. No residual tumor was found in 28% of the surgical specimens and only minimal tumor in 41%. A functionally intact limb was preserved in 30 patients (94%). Local recurrence developed in one patient (3%). The actuarial overall survival at three years was 70% and disease-free survival 57%.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D001132:Arm; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*