Preoperative versus postoperative radiotherapy in soft-tissue sarcoma of the limbs: a randomised trial.
BACKGROUND
External-beam radiotherapy (delivered either preoperatively or postoperatively) is frequently used in local management of sarcomas in the soft tissue of limbs, but the two approaches differ substantially in their potential toxic effects. We aimed to determine whether the timing of external-beam radiotherapy affected the number of wound healing complications in soft-tissue sarcoma in the limbs of adults.


METHODS
After stratification by tumour size (< or = 10 cm or >10 cm), we randomly allocated 94 patients to preoperative radiotherapy (50 Gy in 25 fractions) and 96 to postoperative radiotherapy (66 Gy in 33 fractions). The primary endpoint was rate of wound complications within 120 days of surgery. Analyses were per protocol for primary outcomes and by intention to treat for secondary outcomes.


RESULTS
Median follow-up was 3.3 years (range 0.27-5.6). Four patients, all in the preoperative group, did not undergo protocol surgery and were not evaluable for the primary outcome. Of those patients who were eligible and evaluable, wound complications were recorded in 31 (35%) of 88 in the preoperative group and 16 (17%) of 94 in the postoperative group (difference 18% [95% CI 5-30], p=0.01). Tumour size and anatomical site were also significant risk factors in multivariate analysis. Overall survival was slightly better in patients who had preoperative radiotherapy than in those who had postoperative treatment (p=0.0481).


CONCLUSIONS
Because preoperative radiotherapy is associated with a greater risk of wound complications than postoperative radiotherapy, the choice of regimen for patients with soft-tissue sarcoma should take into account the timing of surgery and radiotherapy, and the size and anatomical site of the tumour.
O'Sullivan
Brian
B
Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. brian.osullivan@rmp.uhn.on.ca
Davis
Aileen M
AM
Turcotte
Robert
R
Bell
Robert
R
Catton
Charles
C
Chabot
Pierre
P
Wunder
Jay
J
Kandel
Rita
R
Goddard
Karen
K
Sadura
Anna
A
Pater
Joseph
J
Zee
Benny
B
D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing