Prognosis of Patients with Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Advances in Recent Years

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the prognosis of patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and to define prognostic indicators for overall survival (OS). Methods: All patients who were treated at the Sarcoma Unit at the Mannheim University Medical Center between 2010 and 2016 and who developed metastatic disease deriving from a STS were included in this retrospective analysis. OS was investigated using data from clinical records and German registry offices. Clinical and pathological characteristics were recorded and analyzed. Results: A total number of 212 patients developed metastatic disease from STS during that period. Median OS after first documentation of metastatic disease was 24 months (95% CI 21–33). 1-, 2-, and 5-year OS rates were 70.0% (95% CI 64–77), 49.9% (95% CI 43–58), and 24.8% (95% CI 19–33), respectively. In multivariate analysis, significant predictors for mortality appeared to be gender, age, location and size of the primary tumor, histology, and disease-free interval. Conclusion: Being treated in a high-volume STS reference center in Germany, patients with metastatic disease could demonstrate an increased OS compared to former analyses. These data can be used as a benchmark for upcoming studies and highlight that further research on treatment strategies in this rare disease is urgently needed.