title: A retrospective statistical analysis of high-grade soft tissue sarcomas.
abstract: Soft-tissue sarcomas have a mortality rate ranging from 40-60% for high-grade lesions. Prior identified risk factors for post-surgical mortality include tumor size, lesion histology, and margin status at resection. A better understanding of prognostic factors is needed to guide patient counseling and treatment. Data were collected from 129 patients surgically treated for high-grade extremity soft tissue sarcomas during 2002-2010. The primary endpoint was death related to high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. Thirteen variables were investigated: age, gender, race, tumor size, margin status, location, estimated blood loss, operative blood transfusions, pre-operative metastatic disease, pre-operative radiation, post-operative radiation, pre-operative chemotherapy, and post-operative chemotherapy. A Cox Survival Analysis model was created to determine the best predictors of survival time. Tumor size and the presence of pre-surgical metastasis were statistically significant predictors of overall survival. Patients with a tumor greater than 8 cm in any cross section had a 3.15 times greater chance of death. Presence of pre-surgical metastasis carried a 3.47 greater chance of death. The remaining variables did not predict patient outcomes in a statistically significant manner. The hazard ratios calculated add new data and can be used to more effectively guide patients in prognosis and treatment regimens.
authors.affiliation: Division of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Department of Orthopaedics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 2050 Kenny Rd, Columbus, OH 43221-3502, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Kolovich
authors.forename: Adam N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Wooldridge
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Christy
authors.forename: Martha K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Crist
authors.forename: Joel L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mayerson
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Scharschmidt
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate