Management of Recurrent or Metastatic Retroperitoneal Soft-Tissue Sarcomas

Retroperitoneal soft-tissue sarcomas remain a serious therapeutic problem. The aim of the study is to define the optimal treatment strategy of patients with locally recurrent or metastatic retroperitoneal soft-tissue sarcomas. Material and methods: A retrospective study was performed. Between 2001 and 2013, 89 patients with retroperitoneal soft-tissue sarcomas were surgically treated in the University Hospital "Queen Joanna - ISUL" and the Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment in Oncology - Sofia. Clinicopathological data were investigated with SPSS-19. Results: The mean time of onset of the first and second relapse of sarcomas was 23 and 13 months, respectively. Over 40% of the studied patients underwent more than one operation because of recurrence. Ability of radical extirpation of the tumour decreased with each subsequent relapse. The 5-year survival rate was 60% for patients with primary combined radical resection versus 28% for patients with partial resection. In the presence of metastatic lesions the 3-year survival rate was only 22%. Conclusion: Local recurrences, the presence of distant metastases and the ability of radical extirpation are the main long-term prognostic factors.