title: Clinical outcome of patients with previously untreated soft tissue sarcomas in relation to tumor grade, DNA ploidy and karyotype.
abstract: The most important prognostic factor in soft tissue sarcomas (STS) is tumor grade. Since most grading methods are subject to the interpretation of the individual pathologist, there is a need for objective criteria such as DNA ploidy and karyotype, which are of prognostic value in several types of malignancy. We have analyzed the relationships among tumor grade, DNA ploidy, cytogenetic abnormalities and the clinical outcome of 44 previously untreated patients with 12 different histological types of primary STS. The tumors were graded according to the method of Coindre, which resulted in 9 grade I (20%), 18 grade II (41%) and 17 grade III (39%) STS. DNA flow cytometry and chromosomal analysis were performed using standard techniques. After a median follow-up time of 39 (range, 2-124) months, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed. Significant differences in 5-year overall survival were found between patients with grade I or II and grade III STS (p < 0.05). Seventeen STS were aneuploid and 26 were euploid. In 21 of 39 successfully cultured STS an abnormal karyotype was found. There were no significant differences in survival in relation to DNA ploidy or the presence of chromosomal abnormalities. Our results show that grading had higher prognostic value than DNA ploidy or the presence of cytogenetic abnormalities in this heterogeneous group of STS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. b.e.c.plaat@path.azg.nl
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Plaat
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Muntinghe
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Molenaar
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Bosveld
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dam
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dijkhuizen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van den Berg
mesh_terms: D000782:Aneuploidy; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D011003:Ploidies; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm