Definitive radiotherapy for ewing tumors of extremities and pelvis: long-term disease control, limb function, and treatment toxicity.
OBJECTIVE
More than 70% of Ewing tumors occur in the extremities and pelvis. This study identified factors influencing local control and functional outcomes after management with definitive radiotherapy (RT).


METHODS
A total of 75 patients with a localized Ewing tumor of the extremity or pelvis were treated with definitive RT at the University of Florida between 1970 and 2006 (lower extremity tumors in 30, pelvic tumors in 26, and upper extremity tumors in 19). RT was performed on a once-daily (40%) or twice-daily (60%) basis. The median dose was 55.2 Gy in 1.8-Gy daily fractions or 55.0 Gy in 1.2-Gy twice-daily fractions. The median observed follow-up was 4.7 years. Functional outcome was assessed using the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score.


RESULTS
The 10-year actuarial overall survival, cause-specific survival, freedom from relapse, and local control rate was 48%, 48%, 42%, and 71%, respectively. Of the 72 patients, 3 required salvage amputation. Inferior cause-specific survival was associated with larger tumors (81% for tumors <8 cm vs. 39% for tumors >/=8 cm, p <0.05). No patient characteristics or treatment variables were predictive of local failure. No fractures occurred in patients treated with hyperfractionation or with tumors of the distal extremities. Severe late complications were more frequently associated with use of <8-MV photons and fields encompassing the entire bone or hemipelvis. A significantly better Toronto Extremity Salvage Score was associated with a late-effect biologically effective dose of <91.7 Gy(3).


CONCLUSIONS
Limb preservation was effectively achieved through definitive RT. Treating limited field sizes with hyperfractionated high-energy RT could minimize long-term complications and provides superior functional outcomes.
Indelicato
Daniel J
DJ
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Keole
Sameer R
SR
Shahlaee
Amir H
AH
Shi
Wenyin
W
Morris
Christopher G
CG
Marcus
Robert B
RB
D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012512:Sarcoma, Ewing / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome