The chemotherapy and radiation in low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma: is there a role?

Abstract Background: Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) is a rare entity with a predilection in the head and neck. There are still no optimal treatment strategies for LGMS. We aimed to investigate the role of chemotherapy and radiation treatment for LGMS. Survival estimate was performed and prognostic factors were identified.Methods: Based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database, LGMS patients diagnosed between 2001 and 2015 were involved in our study. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to estimate overall survival. Cox proportional hazard regression model was performed to identify prognostic factors.Results: A total of 96 eligible patients with LGMS were included, among which 86 (89.6%) received surgical treatment. Twenty-eight (29.2%) patients received radiation treatment while chemotherapy was offered to 20 (10.4%) patients. The median age was 55.0 years old with 22 cases occurred in head and neck region. The mean OS was 125.2 (95%CI 106.3-144.2) months while 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year OS rates were 88%, 77%, 70% and 59%, respectively. Age older than 60 years, positive nodal status and no surgical treatment were independent prognostic factors for patients with LGMS. Chemotherapy and radiation were not independent prognostic factors for LGMS.Conclusions: Several prognostic factors for LGMS were revealed in this study. Surgical resection is the main therapy while chemotherapy and radiation showed limited effects on survival improvement. Thus, chemotherapy and/or radiation should not be routinely performed in LGMS.