Chemotherapy in soft tissue sarcoma. The Scandinavian Sarcoma Group experience.
The Scandinavian Sarcoma Group (SSG) started its first chemotherapy study in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in 1981 (SSG I). This study evaluated single agent doxorubicin given adjuvant in a prospective randomized trial in patients with high-grade STS. Neither overall survival nor disease-free survival was improved. Combination chemotherapy was hereafter studied in a phase II study (1991-1994) combining ifosfamide and continuous infusion etoposide with growth factor support (SSG X). The response rate in previously untreated patients was high (42%), but complete remissions were few. Analysis made on patients operated after chemotherapy indicated improved survival in this subgroup. Meta-analyses of adjuvant chemotherapy for localised resectable STS in adults, including the SSG I trial, has indicated improved disease-free survival and a trend towards improved overall survival. Presently, SSG is testing whether such a benefit can be found for adjuvant ifosfamide and doxorubicin treatment given after primary surgery in selected patients with high-grade STS and other well defined unfavourable prognostic factors (SSG XIII).
Fernberg
J O
JO
Dept of Oncology, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. jan-olof.fernberg@ks.se
Hall
K Sundby
KS
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012042:Registries; D012074:Remission Induction; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery
D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases