Evaluation of the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the planned resectability of extremity soft-tissue sarcomas

Aims: In this study, we explore whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy influences the surgical resection strategy devised by surgeons for high-grade soft-tissue sarcoma. Methods: A total of 12 experienced soft-tissue sarcoma surgeons rated patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy for a soft-tissu...

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Main Authors: Simon Tournemine, Sylvie Bonvalot, Jean-Yves Mary, Dimosthenis Andreou, David Biau
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery 2025-05-01
Series:Bone & Joint Open
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Online Access:https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/epdf/10.1302/2633-1462.65.BJO-2025-0026.R1
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author Simon Tournemine
Sylvie Bonvalot
Jean-Yves Mary
Dimosthenis Andreou
David Biau
author_facet Simon Tournemine
Sylvie Bonvalot
Jean-Yves Mary
Dimosthenis Andreou
David Biau
author_sort Simon Tournemine
collection DOAJ
description Aims: In this study, we explore whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy influences the surgical resection strategy devised by surgeons for high-grade soft-tissue sarcoma. Methods: A total of 12 experienced soft-tissue sarcoma surgeons rated patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy for a soft-tissue sarcoma of the thigh. Cases were randomly assigned to surgeons, such that each surgeon rated three out of the 12 cases, and each case was rated by three out of 12 surgeons (n = 36 ratings before and after chemotherapy). Surgeons were asked which surgical technique they would use: amputation; and if not, resection or dissection of critical anatomical structures in close proximity to the tumour (sciatic nerve, femoral artery, and femur). Pre- and post-chemotherapy ratings were then compared to test if chemotherapy changed the surgery aggressiveness anticipated by the surgeons. Results: Tumour volume increased in 9/12 cases (75%). Ratings as amputation were discordant in 5/36 cases (14%) before and after chemotherapy. The surgical technique planned by surgeons before and after chemotherapy regarding critical anatomical structures were discordant in five (14%), eight (22%), and six of 36 ratings (17%) for the sciatic nerve, the femoral artery, and the femur, respectively. Overall, a similarly aggressive surgery was planned by surgeons in nine, six, and eight cases for the sciatic nerve, the femoral artery, and the femur, respectively, which is significantly more than that expected due to chance alone. A more aggressive surgery was anticipated in five of 36 cases (14%). Conclusion: Despite tumour growth being observed in 75% of cases, the surgical resection strategy devised after neoadjuvant chemotherapy remained notably similar to the one devised prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for critical anatomical structures. However, ‘switchers’, namely patients identified as being at risk of needing an amputation if the tumour experiences slight growth, should undergo conservative surgery initially, followed by chemotherapy. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2025;6(5):553–559.
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spelling doaj-art-c248c729face4cce9d9207a96cf875282025-08-20T03:09:51ZengThe British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint SurgeryBone & Joint Open2633-14622025-05-016555355910.1302/2633-1462.65.BJO-2025-0026.R1Evaluation of the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the planned resectability of extremity soft-tissue sarcomasSimon Tournemine0Sylvie Bonvalot1Jean-Yves Mary2Dimosthenis Andreou3David Biau4 Université Paris-Cité, INSERM U1153, AP-HP, Hôpital Cochin, Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique, Paris, France Department of Surgical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, France INSERM U1342, Team ECSTRRA, Université Paris Cité, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Institute for Interdisciplinary Sarcoma Treatment and Research, Department of Orthopedic Oncology and Sarcoma Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany Université Paris-Cité, INSERM U1153, AP-HP, Hôpital Cochin, Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique, Paris, France Aims: In this study, we explore whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy influences the surgical resection strategy devised by surgeons for high-grade soft-tissue sarcoma. Methods: A total of 12 experienced soft-tissue sarcoma surgeons rated patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy for a soft-tissue sarcoma of the thigh. Cases were randomly assigned to surgeons, such that each surgeon rated three out of the 12 cases, and each case was rated by three out of 12 surgeons (n = 36 ratings before and after chemotherapy). Surgeons were asked which surgical technique they would use: amputation; and if not, resection or dissection of critical anatomical structures in close proximity to the tumour (sciatic nerve, femoral artery, and femur). Pre- and post-chemotherapy ratings were then compared to test if chemotherapy changed the surgery aggressiveness anticipated by the surgeons. Results: Tumour volume increased in 9/12 cases (75%). Ratings as amputation were discordant in 5/36 cases (14%) before and after chemotherapy. The surgical technique planned by surgeons before and after chemotherapy regarding critical anatomical structures were discordant in five (14%), eight (22%), and six of 36 ratings (17%) for the sciatic nerve, the femoral artery, and the femur, respectively. Overall, a similarly aggressive surgery was planned by surgeons in nine, six, and eight cases for the sciatic nerve, the femoral artery, and the femur, respectively, which is significantly more than that expected due to chance alone. A more aggressive surgery was anticipated in five of 36 cases (14%). Conclusion: Despite tumour growth being observed in 75% of cases, the surgical resection strategy devised after neoadjuvant chemotherapy remained notably similar to the one devised prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for critical anatomical structures. However, ‘switchers’, namely patients identified as being at risk of needing an amputation if the tumour experiences slight growth, should undergo conservative surgery initially, followed by chemotherapy. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2025;6(5):553–559.https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/epdf/10.1302/2633-1462.65.BJO-2025-0026.R1soft-tissue sarcomaimagingchemotherapysurgical techniqueneoadjuvant chemotherapyextremity soft-tissue sarcomaschemotherapysoft-tissue sarcomasamputationsanatomical structuressurgical resectionfemoral arterysciatic nervefemur
spellingShingle Simon Tournemine
Sylvie Bonvalot
Jean-Yves Mary
Dimosthenis Andreou
David Biau
Evaluation of the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the planned resectability of extremity soft-tissue sarcomas
Bone & Joint Open
soft-tissue sarcoma
imaging
chemotherapy
surgical technique
neoadjuvant chemotherapy
extremity soft-tissue sarcomas
chemotherapy
soft-tissue sarcomas
amputations
anatomical structures
surgical resection
femoral artery
sciatic nerve
femur
title Evaluation of the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the planned resectability of extremity soft-tissue sarcomas
title_full Evaluation of the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the planned resectability of extremity soft-tissue sarcomas
title_fullStr Evaluation of the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the planned resectability of extremity soft-tissue sarcomas
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the planned resectability of extremity soft-tissue sarcomas
title_short Evaluation of the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the planned resectability of extremity soft-tissue sarcomas
title_sort evaluation of the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the planned resectability of extremity soft tissue sarcomas
topic soft-tissue sarcoma
imaging
chemotherapy
surgical technique
neoadjuvant chemotherapy
extremity soft-tissue sarcomas
chemotherapy
soft-tissue sarcomas
amputations
anatomical structures
surgical resection
femoral artery
sciatic nerve
femur
url https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/epdf/10.1302/2633-1462.65.BJO-2025-0026.R1
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AT jeanyvesmary evaluationoftheeffectofneoadjuvantchemotherapyontheplannedresectabilityofextremitysofttissuesarcomas
AT dimosthenisandreou evaluationoftheeffectofneoadjuvantchemotherapyontheplannedresectabilityofextremitysofttissuesarcomas
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