Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a diverse group of rare malignant soft tissue tumors with a high disease burden. Treatment protocols are complex and, to this day, a precise recommendation for the surgical margin width is lacking. The present study aims to analyze the width of the surgical margins in STS resection specimens and analyze them for local and systemic disease-free survival as well as for most frequent histologic STS subtypes. A total of 169 consecutive patients diagnosed and treated in curative intent in our institution following a primary and localized STS of the extremities or trunk from January 2010 to December 2020 were included in this study regardless of age. Our data reveal that low-grade STSs are best controlled locally by a surgical margin ≥2 mm and in this way also preventing distant metastases effectively. Local recurrence-free survival and metastasis-free survival in high-grade STS were improved by intact muscle fascia or periosteum at the margin when compared only to soft tissue. However, the outcome was independent of the surgical margin width, suggesting a close but negative margin may be safe in high-grade STS subtypes with less invasive growth patterns when combined with adjunct radiochemotherapy.

Purpose: We evaluated additional mutations in RAS wild-type (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) as prognostic and predictive biomarkers for the efficacy of added panitumumab to a 5-fluorouracil plus folinic acid (FU/FA) maintenance as pre-specified analysis of the randomized PanaMa trial. Patients and Methods: Mutations (MUT) were identified using targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS; Illumina Cancer Hotspot Panel v2) and IHC. RAS/BRAF V600E/PIK3CA/AKT1/ALK1/ERBB2/PTEN MUT and HER2/neu overexpressions were negatively hyperselected and correlated with median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) since start of maintenance treatment, and objective response rates (ORR). Univariate/multivariate Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: 202 of 248 patients (81.5%) of the full analysis set (FAS) had available NGS data: hyperselection WT, 162 (80.2%); MUT, 40 (19.8%). From start of maintenance therapy, hyperselection WT tumors were associated with longer median PFS as compared with hyperselection MUT mCRC (7.5 vs. 5.4 months; HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.52–1.07; P = 0.11), OS (28.7 vs. 22.2 months; HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36–0.77; P = 0.001), and higher ORR (35.8% vs. 25.0%, P = 0.26). The addition of panitumumab to maintenance was associated with significant benefit in hyperselection WT tumors for PFS (9.2 vs. 6.0 months; HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47–0.93; P = 0.02) and numerically also for OS (36.9 vs. 24.9 months; HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.61–1.36; P = 0.50), but not in hyperselection MUT tumors. Hyperselection status interacted with maintenance treatment arms in terms of PFS (P = 0.06) and OS (P = 0.009). Conclusions: Extended molecular profiling beyond RAS may have the potential to improve the patient selection for anti-EGFR containing maintenance regimens.

Purpose: Tumor immune cell infiltration patterns in the tumor microenvironment serve as prognostic biomarkers in metastatic colorectal cancer. This study analyzed the spatially resolved tumor immune microenvironment for prognostic and predictive impact in patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer receiving 5-fluoruracil/folinic acid ± panitumumab (Pmab) maintenance after Pmab + fluorouracil, folinic acid, and oxaliplatin induction (PanaMa AIO KRK0212; NCT01991873). Patients and Methods: Twelve immune parameters (lymphocyte markers: CD3, CD8, CD45RO, FOXP3, CD20, granzyme B, and perforin; immune checkpoints: PD-1, PD-L1, IDO1, and LAG3; and monocyte marker CD163) were quantified in spatially resolved tumor and stroma regions [invasive-margin (Inv) and center (Cen)] on tissue microarrays from available surgical resections using digital pathology. Prognostic and predictive associations were assessed using percentile cutoffs, immunoscore (IS), PD-L1 combined positive score, and an immunoactivation score (IAS). The median progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method, log rank test, and Cox regression. Results: In 194 patients, low CD163 and high PD-1 in the tumor center were independent prognostic factors for prolonged PFS, whereas high central LAG3 was associated with improved OS. Pmab maintenance conferred PFS benefit in patients with low CD3InvStr, CD8Inv, LAG3CenTum, CD163CenTum, and IS and high CD45ROCen. CD45ROCen high and LAG3Cen low also predicted OS benefit. A positive IAS (≥2 predictive markers) identified patients deriving significant PFS (HR = 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.32–0.76; P < 0.001) and OS (HR = 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.33–0.86; P = 0.009) benefit from Pmab. Conclusions: Immune microenvironment factors, including CD3, CD8, CD163, LAG3, CD45RO, IS, and IAS, predict benefit from Pmab maintenance, suggesting immune activation as a key component of anti-EGFR efficacy.

Purpose: Complete resection is a key prognostic factor for survival in patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS), in humas and companion animals alike. Fluorescence-guided surgery could improve resection accuracy. As dogs are frequently affected by STS, they serve as a model to test an anti-α_vβ₃ integrin targeting near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) dye (Angiostamp^TM800) for fluorescence-guided surgery in STS to evaluate its safety and feasibility in dogs, and if it translates into a clinically relevant benefit compared to the standard of care with regards to completeness of surgery and local recurrence. Furthermore, we aimed to correlate target expression and NIRF-signal intensity. Methods: Twenty dogs with STS were randomly allocated to either receive Angiostamp™ (NIRF group) or physiologic saline (control group) preoperatively. The researchers were blinded for treatment, and resections were adapted based on the NIRF-signal, if needed. Margin status was histologically determined at the 1 and 3 cm margin. The tumor-to-background ratio was measured in native tissue biopsies and formalin-fixed tissue. The fluorescent area was compared to the corresponding tumor areas as confirmed by histology using the Dice coefficient. Target expression was quantified by immunohistochemistry and correlated to NIRF-signal ratios. Results: A fluorescent signal was detected in all 10 tumors of the NIRF group, with a tumor-to-background ratio of 7.4 ± 5.8 in native biopsies and 13.5 ± 10.9 in formalin-fixed tissue. In the NIRF group, resection margins were adapted in 5/10 cases, leading to complete resection and preventing R1 in four of these cases. In the NIRF and control group 9/10 and 8/10 resections were R0, with one local recurrence in each group and one sarcoma-related death in the NIRF group. The NIRF-signal correlated with the histologically confirmed tumor area (Dice coefficient 0.75 ± 0.17). Target expression was higher in tumor compared to peritumoral tissue (p < 0.0003) and showed a moderate correlation with the NIRF-signal (r = 0.6516, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Fluorescence-guided surgery using Angiostamp™ can pinpoint residual disease in the tumor bed and contributes to an improved resection accuracy in canine STS.

Purpose: Prognosis of sarcoma patients is improving, with a better understanding of sarcomagenesis revealing novel therapeutic targets. However, aggressive chemotherapy remains an essential part of treatment, bearing the risk of severe side effects that require intensive medical treatment. Available data on the characteristics and clinical outcome of sarcoma patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) are sparse. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of sarcoma patients admitted to the ICU from 2005 to 2022. Patients ≥ 18 years with histologically proven sarcoma were included in our study. Results: Sixty-six patients were eligible for analysis. The following characteristics had significant impact on overall survival: sex (p=0.046), tumour localization (p=0.02), therapeutic intention (p=0.02), line of chemotherapy (p< 0.001), SAPS II score (p=0.03) and SOFA score (p=0.02). Conclusion: Our study confirms the predictive relevance of established sepsis and performance scores in sarcoma patients. For overall survival, common clinical characteristics are also of significant value. Further investigation is needed to optimize ICU treatment of sarcoma patients.

Purpose:We evaluated additional mutations in RAS wild-type (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) as prognostic and predictive biomarkers for the efficacy of added panitumumab to a 5-fluorouracil plus folinic acid (FU/FA) maintenance as pre-specified analysis of the randomized PanaMa trial.Patients and Methods:Mutations (MUT) were identified using targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS; Illumina Cancer Hotspot Panel v2) and IHC. RAS/BRAF V600E/PIK3CA/AKT1/ALK1/ERBB2/PTEN MUT and HER2/neu overexpressions were negatively hyperselected and correlated with median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) since start of maintenance treatment, and objective response rates (ORR). Univariate/multivariate Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results:202 of 248 patients (81.5%) of the full analysis set (FAS) had available NGS data: hyperselection WT, 162 (80.2%); MUT, 40 (19.8%). From start of maintenance therapy, hyperselection WT tumors were associated with longer median PFS as compared with hyperselection MUT mCRC (7.5 vs. 5.4 months; HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.52–1.07; P = 0.11), OS (28.7 vs. 22.2 months; HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36–0.77; P = 0.001), and higher ORR (35.8% vs. 25.0%, P = 0.26). The addition of panitumumab to maintenance was associated with significant benefit in hyperselection WT tumors for PFS (9.2 vs. 6.0 months; HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47–0.93; P = 0.02) and numerically also for OS (36.9 vs. 24.9 months; HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.61–1.36; P = 0.50), but not in hyperselection MUT tumors. Hyperselection status interacted with maintenance treatment arms in terms of PFS (P = 0.06) and OS (P = 0.009).Conclusions:Extended molecular profiling beyond RAS may have the potential to improve the patient selection for anti-EGFR containing maintenance regimens.