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A Le Cesne

Publications and source records attributed to A Le Cesne.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Pressure-suit combined with pelvic stop-flow: a feasibility study in a bovine model.

BACKGROUND: Isolated pelvic perfusion exposes tissue to high drug doses and may benefit patients with advanced malignancy. However, leakage is a limit to this technique. AIMS: The aim of the study is to increase the perfusion ratio between local and systemic compartments on isolated pelvic perfusion. We hypothesised that an inflated pressure-suit placed above the level of aortic and caval stop flow could decrease leakage from the regional to the systemic blood compartment in a bovine model. METHOD: As the size of the pressure-suit was adapted for use in humans, we performed our experimental study on 6 calves which are big enough to fit into the suit. We used an inflated pressure-suit placed at low (40mmHg) and high pressures (125mmHg) above the level of aortic and caval stop-flow. A pharmacokinetic study with cisplatinum was performed in both compartments. RESULTS: After injection of the drug, the mean ratio of drug concentration in the locoregional/systemic compartment was 43.1. After 30min, this mean ratio was 4 and 9.7 for a pressure-suit pressure of 40mmHg and 125mmHg, respectively. At pressure-suit pressures of 40mmHg and 125mmHg, pelvic perfusion achieved pelvic/systemic exposure ratios of 5.9 and 14.9 at 30min, respectively. Leakage at 30min was higher when the pressure-suit was inflated at low pressure (40mmHg, mean 18%). When the pressure-suit was inflated at high pressure, leakage was lower (125mmHg, mean 7%). CONCLUSIONS: The pressure-suit increased the perfusion ratio between pelvic and systemic compartments in a bovine model.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Function preserving surgery of limb sarcomas: history and improvements].

In the seventies, limb-sparing surgery and radiation therapy appeared capable of successfully treating the great majority of adult patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities. No survival benefit could be demonstrated in the patients selected for amputation. Microscopically positive surgical margins are related to a greater risk of local recurrence, whereas overall survival is compromised by high grade and large tumor size. Presurgery multidisciplinary discussion, management in reference center and management within cancer network independently predict conformity to the clinical practice guidelines. Reoperation should be a planned part of definitive management whenever the initial surgical procedure was done without a histologic diagnosis or was not planned to be a wide excision. Soft tissue flap reconstruction facilitates therapy for patients with locally advanced tumors so that patients with larger tumors can undergo resection, limiting complications and limb sacrifice. Vascular reconstruction is a feasible option in case of involvement of major vessels. Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) with TNF and chemotherapy is an efficient limb-sparing neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced limb soft tissue sarcomas. Efficacy and safety of low-dose TNFalpha could greatly facilitate ILP procedures in the near future.

Arm↗
PubMed2006

[Clinical practice guidelines: 2006 update of recommendations for the radiotherapeutic management of patients with soft tissue sarcoma (sarcoma of the extremity, uterine sarcoma and retroperitoneal sarcoma].

CONTEXT: The National French Federation of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (FNCLCC) initiated the update of clinical practice guideline for the management of patients with soft tissue sarcoma in collaboration with the French Sarcoma Group (GSF-GETO), specialists from French public universities, general hospitals and private clinics and with the French National Cancer Institute. This work is based on the methodology developed in the "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project. OBJECTIVES: To update SOR guidelines for the management of patients with soft tissue sarcoma previously validated in 1995. METHODS: The methodology is based on a literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts who define the CPGsaccording to the definitions of the Standards, Options and Recommendations project. Once the guidelines have been developed, they are reviewed by independent reviewers. RESULTS: This article presents the updated recommendations for radiotherapeutic management. The main recommendations are: 1) irradiation before or after surgical treatment is the standard for soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity and uterine sarcoma; 2) no systematic irradiation should be done in case of retroperitoneal sarcoma.

Brachytherapy↗
PubMed2006

Surgical excision of bone sarcomas involving the sacroiliac joint.

Adequate (wide or marginal and uncontaminated) margins and reconstruction are difficult to achieve when performing an internal hemipelvectomy for bone sarcomas involving the sacroiliac joint. We evaluated whether adequate surgical margins could be achieved and if functional outcomes could be predicted based on the type of resection and reconstruction. Forty patients had resections of the sacroiliac joint. Vertical sacral osteotomies were through the sacral wing (n = 2), ipsilateral sacral foramina (n = 27), sacral midline (n = 9), or contralateral foramina (n = 2). Iliac resections were Type I, Type I-II with partial or total acetabular re-section, or Type I-II-III. Surgical margins were adequate in 28 of 38 patients (74%), two (7%) of whom experienced local recurrence, compared with seven of 10 (70%) patients with inadequate margins. Reconstruction consisted of restoring continuity between the spine and pelvis. Resection of the entire acetabulum and removal of the lumbosacral trunk were the two main determinants of function, as assessed using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score. There were no life-threatening or function-threatening complications. Internal hemipelvectomy with a limb salvage procedure can be achieved with adequate surgical margins in selected patients. Functional outcomes can be predicted based on the type of resection and reconstruction, which helps the surgeon plan the procedure and inform the patient.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Impact of surgery on advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) in the imatinib era.

BACKGROUND: The role for surgery in patients with "unresectable" gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) treated with imatinib is still not defined. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and benefit of this secondary surgery. METHODS: Progression-free survival (PFS) in a group of patients who underwent secondary surgery was compared to that of patients treated exclusively with imatinib. RESULTS: Of 180 patients with unresectable GIST treated with Imatinib, 22 (12%) underwent secondary surgery, following which one patient achieved a complete radiological response, 19 achieved a partial response (PR), in one patient the disease was stable, and in one patient there was reactivation of local occlusive disease after an initial PR. No patient with overall progression was to undergo surgery. At the beginning of imatinib therapy, five patients with metastases underwent emergency surgery [hemorrhage (n = 3) due to rupture of large necrotic masses], which ultimately resulted in three of the five patients dying postoperatively. A macroscopically complete resection was achieved in all primary tumors (5/5) and in ten of the 17 metastases. Pathological analysis revealed two complete response (CR) and 17 PR, and no treatment effect was evidenced in three patients. Two-year overall survival after surgery was 62%. The median PFS calculated from the initiation of imatinib therapy was 18.7 months for all operated patients and 23.4 months after planned surgery. CONCLUSION: Primary tumors that become amenable to surgery with prior imatinib therapy, evolving necrosis and localized progression (to avoid life-threatening complications) could benefit from this secondary surgery. For the majority of other residual lesions, the potential benefit of secondary surgery should be evaluated in randomized studies in the future since PFS is similar to that reported among non-operated patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Surgery of retroperitoneal sarcomas].

Retroperitoneal sarcomas comprise approximately 15% of all soft tissue sarcomas and 50% of all retroperitoneal tumours. Helical CT of the abdomen and pelvis, with selective use of MRI will establish the extent of the tumour, its retroperitoneal location, the degree of necrosis, and the evidence of metastasis. A CT guided core needle biopsy is the optimal pre operative tissue sampling. A complete surgical resection is the mainstay of the treatment with a rim of normal tissue that often requires removal of adjacent organs. The 5-year probability of local control is approximately 50%. The role of adjuvant therapy is evolving and at present should not be used outside the investigational setting.

Humans↗
PubMed2005

Limb salvage with isolated perfusion for soft tissue sarcoma: could less TNF-alpha be better?

BACKGROUND: The optimal dose of TNF-alpha delivered by isolated limb perfusion (ILP) in patients with locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma is still unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Randomised phase II trial comparing hyperthermic ILP (38-40 degrees ) with melphalan and one of the four assigned doses of TNF-alpha: 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg, and 3/4 mg upper/lower limb. The main end point was objective tumour response on MRI. Secondary end points were histological response, rate of amputation and toxicity. Resection of the remnant tumour was performed 2-3 months after ILP. The sample size was calculated assuming a linear increase of 10% in the objective response rates between each dose level group. RESULTS: One hundred patients (25 per arm) were included. Thirteen per cent of patients had a systemic leakage with a cardiac toxicity in six patients correlated with high doses of TNF-alpha. Objective tumour responses were: 68%, 56%, 72% and 64% in the 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg and 3 or 4 mg arms, respectively (NS). Sixteen per cent of patients were not operated, 71% had a conservative surgery and 13% were amputated with no difference between the groups. With a median follow-up of 24 months, the 2 year overall and disease-free survival rates (95% CI) were 82% (73% to 89%) and 49% (39% to 59%), respectively. CONCLUSION: At the range of TNF-alpha doses tested, there was no dose effect detected for the objective tumour response, but systemic toxicity was significantly correlated with higher TNF-alpha doses. Efficacy and safety of low-dose TNF-alpha could greatly facilitate ILP procedures in the near future.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Doppler US with perfusion software and contrast medium injection in the early evaluation of isolated limb perfusion of limb sarcomas: prospective study of 49 cases.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the use of Doppler ultrasonography with perfusion software and contrast agent injection (DUPC) during isolated limb perfusion (ILP) with high-dose chemotherapy and TNF-alpha(biochemotherapy) in patients with locally advanced extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients were prospectively included in this monocentric imaging trial. Three were excluded because the study was incomplete in two patients and one tumour did not exhibit any contrast uptake. DUPC was performed before ILP and on days 1, 7, 15, 30 and 60 after ILP. A total of 292 DUPC were performed on 55 target lesions in 49 evaluable patients. The percentage of contrast uptake was evaluated at each tumour site by two radiologists. The criterion tested was a decrease of more than 50% in intra-tumour contrast uptake compared to the pre-ILP examination. Results were compared with both MRI and histological analysis after resection of residual disease. RESULTS: According to MRI and the histological analysis, 25 (51%) patients were good responders (no difference between the four treatment arms) with tumour necrosis exceeding 90% and 24 (49%) were poor responders. As of day +1, the accuracy of DUPC in predicting tumour response was 82% (18/25 good responders and 22/24 poor responders) increasing to 91% at day +7, 95% at day +15 and 96% at day +30. At day +15, DUPC was predictive of a good response in 100% of the cases. CONCLUSION: DUPC is a simple technique, allowing early prediction of tumour response after ILP. A new treatment planning scheme can be proposed based on the results of this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Phase II study of ET-743 in advanced soft tissue sarcomas: a European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) soft tissue and bone sarcoma group trial.

PURPOSE: This nonrandomized multicenter phase II study was performed to evaluate the activity and safety of Ecteinascidin (ET-743) administered at a dose of 1.5 mg/m(2) as a 24-hour continuous infusion every 3 weeks in patients with pretreated advanced soft tissue sarcoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with documented progressive advanced soft tissue sarcoma received ET-743 as second- or third-line chemotherapy. Antitumor activity was evaluated every 6 weeks until progression, excessive toxicity, or patient refusal. RESULTS: One hundred four patients from eight European institutions were included in the study (March 1999 to November 2000). A total of 410 cycles were administered in 99 assessable patients. Toxicity mainly involved reversible grade 3 to 4 asymptomatic elevation of transaminases in 40% of patients, and grade 3 to 4 neutropenia was observed in 52% of patients. There were eight partial responses (PR; objective regression rate, 8%), 45 no change (NC; > 6 months in 26% of patients), and 39 progressive disease. A progression arrest rate (PR + NC) of 56% was observed in leiomyosarcoma and 61% in synovialosarcoma. The median duration of the time to progression was 105 days, and the 6-month progression-free survival was 29%. The median duration of survival was 9.2 months. CONCLUSION: ET-743 seems to be a promising active agent in advanced soft tissue sarcoma, with no cumulative toxicities. The 6-months progression-free survival observed in advanced soft tissue sarcoma compares favorably with those obtained with other active drugs tested in second-line chemotherapy in previous European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer trials. The median overall survival was unusually long in these heavily pretreated patients mainly due to the high number of patients who benefit from the drug in terms of tumor control.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

RECIST vs. WHO: prospective comparison of response criteria in an EORTC phase II clinical trial investigating ET-743 in advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

The present study was set up just after the publication of the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) as a prospective validation exercise in soft tissue sarcoma. Forty-nine patients were entered into a phase II clinical trial aiming at determining the activity and safety of ET-743 (Ecteinascidin) in second line advanced soft tissue sarcoma. Response to treatment and progression were monitored following the WHO criteria and RECIST. Discordances between WHO and RECIST criteria for the best response were reported for two cases: one no-change (WHO) reported as partial response (RECIST) and one progression (WHO) reported as no-change (RECIST). In terms of date of progression, 3 patients progressed on WHO criteria while they were still stable with RECIST. Overall the results of the study would not have changed if RECIST had been used instead of WHO criteria. In conclusion, response criteria as defined by RECIST are adequate to measure response and progression in non-GIST soft tissue sarcoma and can be used instead of the modified WHO criteria.

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating↗
PubMed2005

Randomized trial of cytoreduction followed by intraperitoneal chemotherapy versus cytoreduction alone in patients with peritoneal sarcomatosis.

PURPOSE: In order to decrease loco-regional relapse after complete resection of peritoneal sarcomatosis (PS), the role of intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPEC) was prospectively evaluated. METHODS: Patients (pts) with completely resected PS were randomized between adjunction of IPEC or not. IPEC consisted of doxorubicin, 0.1mg/kg and cisplatin, 15 mg/m(2) per day for 5 consecutive days. Primary endpoint was survival, measured as time from randomization to death. The scheduled number of patients needed was 40 in order to detect a minimal increase of 40% overall survival with the adjunction of IPEC with a power of 80%. RESULTS: Thirty-eight consecutive pts have been randomized, 19 in each group. Ratio of retroperitoneal (RPS) and visceral (VS) sarcomatosis were 9/10 and 6/13 in IPEC- and IPEC+ group, respectively. Histoprognostic grade, Sugarbaker's score and mean number of resected organs were similar in both groups. There were no toxic deaths and morbidity was similar in both groups (four pts in each group). The median follow-up is 60 months. The median local relapse-free, metastatic relapse-free survival and overall survival were identical in both groups (12.5, 18 and 29 months, respectively), with no difference between RPS and VS sarcomatosis. CONCLUSION: Administration of IPEC after a macroscopically complete surgery did not allow to increase greatly the outcome of pts. Complete surgery remains the cornerstone of the treatment of patients with sarcomatosis with best results for low grade sarcomatosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Consensus meeting for the management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Report of the GIST Consensus Conference of 20-21 March 2004, under the auspices of ESMO.

BACKGROUND: The management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) has evolved very rapidly in the last 4 years. The objectives of this international consensus meeting were to describe the optimal management procedures for patients with GIST in localized and advanced stages, as well as research issues for the future. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A panel of experts from six specialties, including pathology, molecular biology, imaging, surgery, medical oncology and methodologists for clinical practice guidelines from different European and extra European sarcoma societies were invited to a 2-day workshop. Several questions were selected by the organizing committee prior to the conference. Selected panelists reviewed the current levels of evidence for each point, and presented their conclusions during the meeting. These proposals were discussed, and consensus points were identified and categorized according to the Standard Options Recommandations (SOR) of the French Federation of Cancer Centers and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). RESULTS: Thirty-two consensus points were identified, most from categories 2A of the NCCN and B2 of the SOR. Among these, the standard histological examination with immunohistochemical analysis using CD117, CD34, PS100, desmin and smooth muscle actin is considered standard. Molecular biology for the identification of KIT and PDGFRA mutation is an optional diagnostic procedure for GIST with negative CD117 staining, and otherwise is considered a research procedure. Complete tumor resection with negative tumor margins is the standard surgical treatment. Adjuvant imatinib after optimal tumor resection as well as neo-adjuvant imatinib remain experimental approaches to be performed within prospective clinical studies. Imatinib should be started at the date of diagnosis of metastatic relapse and given until development of intolerance or progressive disease. The optimal criteria for tumor response to imatinib remain to be delineated, and should include not only tumor size reduction or disease stabilization, but also reduction of tumor density (Hounsfield Units) on computed tomography and metabolic activity (i.e. reduction of FDG uptake on positron emission tomography). In a substantial proportion of patients, stable disease and even increase in tumor size may be associated with pathologic response to imatinib therapy, and available survival data indicate that the survival of these patients is similar to that of patients with conventional tumor response. Metastasis resection is an experimental procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Consensus points in clinical management of GIST as well as questions for future clinical trials were identified during this consensus conference on GIST management.

Benzamides↗
PubMed2004

A phase II study of ET-743/trabectedin ('Yondelis') for patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours.

Primary or secondary resistance to imatinib may occur in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) while these tumours have repeatedly been shown to be highly resistant to conventional doxorubicin- and ifosfamide-containing regimens. The investigation of new drugs is therefore warranted in GIST. A phase II study was conducted between May 1999 and November 2000 in eight centres of the EORTC STBSG group to establish the efficacy and safety of ET743 ('Yondelis') in GIST previously untreated with cytotoxic chemotherapy before the imatinib era. ET-743 was given was given at 1.5 mg/m(2) per course as a 24-h continuous intravenous infusion every 3 weeks. Twenty-eight patients were included, 16 males and 12 females. Median age was 54 years (range 25-73 years). Median performance status was 0 (range 0-1). 17 (63%), 4 (12%) and 7 (25%) patients, received 0-2, 3-5, and > or = 6 courses of ET-743, respectively. The best response was stable disease in 9 (33%) patients, and disease progression in 18 patients (67%), with a median time to disease progression and overall survival of 51 days and 589 days, respectively. The treatment was well tolerated: there were grades 3-4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and transaminase increases in 13 (48%), 1 (4%) and 16 (59%) patients, respectively. There were no toxic deaths. ET-743 at this dose and schedule is not an effective treatment for advanced GIST.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Prognostic factors after surgery of primary resectable gastrointestinal stromal tumours.

AIMS: To analyse the prognostic factors of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) after a complete resection of the primary tumour. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine patients who underwent a complete initial resection of a GIST were studied. Peritumoral resections (PTR) were compared to segmental organ resections (SOR). Overall survival (OS) and the disease-free survival (DFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Primary sites were: stomach (25), small intestine (22), rectum (7), duodenum (5). Two patients had nodal involvement. The median follow-up was 45 months. Local DFS was significantly better after SOR compared to PTR (median 63 vs. 11 months, respectively, p<0.001). Univariate analysis for OS identified the grade (p=0.005) and size (p=0.02) as prognostic factors. Only a high histologic grade was an independent factor (p=0.02) in the multivariate analysis. Out of 49 patients who relapsed, the first recurrence was local only in 12, local and distant in 10 and distant only in 27; only one had a lymph node failure. Recurrences were accessible to curative surgery in 22 cases. OS of patients submitted to complete resection of their recurrence was significantly better than patients whose recurrence could not be resected (median 52 vs. 12 months, respectively, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Complete surgery without rupture remains the mainstay of treatment in patients with localized, resectable disease. A peri-tumoral resection confers a high risk of local recurrence and should be avoided. Lymphadenectomy is not systematic. Grade is the main prognostic factor for OS and can be a decision marker for adjuvant treatment with Gleevec.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Prognostic factors in primary breast sarcomas: a series of patients with long-term follow-up.

PURPOSE: To describe the pathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of primary breast sarcomas (PBSs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records and pathologic slides of 83 women with PBS treated in our institution between 1954 and 1991, with a median follow-up of 7.8 years. The majority of patients had undergone surgical treatment. RESULTS: The main histologic type was malignant fibrohistiocytoma (n = 57). For the whole population, the 10-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 62% and 50%, respectively. For Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer grade 1, 2, and 3 tumors, the 10-year OS and DFS rates were 82% and 61%, 62% and 51%, and 36% and 25%, respectively (P =.00007 and.004, respectively). For tumors measuring less than 5 cm, 5 to 10 cm, and more than 10 cm, the 10-year OS and DFS rates were 76% and 66%, 68% and 55%, and 28% and 15%, respectively (P =.002 and.009, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, the tumor size and histologic grade were correlated with the 10-year DFS rate (P =.04 and.01, respectively), but only the histologic grade was correlated with OS (P =.01). Angiosarcoma was the only histologic type significantly associated with a poorer outcome in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: PBSs have the same clinical history and prognostic factors as sarcomas arising at other sites. Therefore, it is legitimate to use a similar treatment strategy for PBS as for other sarcomas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Baseline and early lymphopenia predict for the risk of febrile neutropenia after chemotherapy.

A risk model for febrile neutropenia (FN) after conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, based on early (day 5) lymphopenia and the dose of chemotherapy, has been described. A risk index based on parameters available at day 1 would be easier in daily practice. The objectives of this work were (1) to investigate a risk model for FN using only day 1 blood cell count and (2) to compare the day 1 and day 5 risk models. Three series of patients were used for the delineation and/or validation of these two risk models: (1) the exhaustive cohort of 950 patients treated in the Department of Medicine of the CLB in 1996 (CLB-1996 series), (2) the Elypse 1 series, a prospective series of 321 patients treated in community hospitals and regional cancer centres, and (3) a previously reported Elypse 0 series of 329 patients. Day 1 blood cell count was available in all three series, while day 5 blood cell count was available only in the Elypse 0 and 1 series. In the CLB-1996 series, 92 (9.7%) patients experienced FN; only chemotherapy dose and day 1 lymphopenia < or =700 microl(-1) had an independent prognostic value for FN in multivariate analysis. In patients with both risk factors ('high-risk group'), the incidence of FN was 44, 50 and 61% in the CLB-1996. Elypse 1 and 0 series, respectively, indicating that the 'day 1' risk model enables one to identify patients at high-risk for FN. Besides, the observed incidence of FN in the high-risk group of the 'day 5' model (i.e. patients with day 5 lymphopenia < or =700 microl(-1) and receiving high-risk CT) was 45 and 69% in the Elypse 0 and 1 series, respectively. In the Elypse 1 and 0 series, 15 and 12% of all patients who experienced FN were in the high-risk group of the 'day 1' risk model as compared to 25 and 62% for the high-risk group of the 'day 5' risk model. Both day 1 and day 5 lymphopenia are associated with an increased risk of FN in patients treated with chemotherapy. The 'day 1' model identifies a small population of patients at high risk for FN, but has a lower sensitivity than the day 5 model.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Advanced soft-tissue sarcoma: a disease that is potentially curable for a subset of patients treated with chemotherapy.

Adult patients with metastatic or locally advanced irresectable soft-tissue sarcoma (ASTS) are generally considered as incurable. Whether some of these patients achieve long-term survival after first-line treatment with chemotherapy is not known. Patients with ASTS still alive 5 years after initial treatment with a doxorubicin-containing regimen, i.e. long-term survivors, were analysed among the 2187 patients included in first-line chemotherapy protocols between 1976 and 1990 in seven trials of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group (EORTC STBSG) group. 1888 patients were followed for at least 5 years. The initial clinical characteristics and the outcome of the long-term survivors were investigated. 66 of the 1888 patients were alive at 5 years and the projected 5-year survival was 8% in this series. Age or histological subtypes were similar in the long-term survivors compared with the other patients. The percentages of females (69%), of grade 1 tumours (35%), of patients with an initial performance status (PS) of 0 (63%) were significantly higher in the long-term survivors while liver metastasis (6% versus 21%) were significantly less frequent. Long-term survivors were observed in all subgroups of patients. 31, 31, 31 and 6% of the long-term survivors were in complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressive disease (PD), respectively, after the first-line regimen. A CR to a doxorubicin-containing regimen was the major parameter correlated to 5-year survival. In multivariate analysis using a logistic model, independent parameters correlated to 5-year survival were PS, female gender, grade I tumours, and the achievement of a CR after first-line treatment, which was retained as the most powerful predictor for 5-year survival. 10 of the 66 patients died after 5 years in this series, including 8 patients in PD or SD after first-line treatment versus 2 patients in PR or CR (P=0.01). 8% of patients with ASTS are alive 5 years after first-line chemotherapy with a doxorubicin-containing regimen. Long-term survivors are observed in all prognostic subgroups of patients, in particular those achieving a CR to first-line chemotherapy.

Adult↗