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:: Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) Defined ::

Leiomyosarcoma (Gr. Leio- =smooth, myo- = muscle, sarcoma = fleshy growth) is a type of sarcoma which is a neoplasm of smooth muscle. (When a uterine neoplasm is benign, it is a leiomyoma.) Smooth muscle cells make up the involuntary muscles, which are found in most parts of the body: in uterus, stomach and intestines, walls of all blood vessels, and skin. It is therefore possible for leiomyosarcomas to appear at any site in the body. It is however most commonly found in the stomach, small intestine and retroperitoneum.

Leiomyosarcoma is a very rare cancer. It makes up 5-10% of soft tissue sarcomas, which are in themselves rare cancers.

:: About Leiomyosarcoma ::

Leiomyosarcoma is a form of cancer that affects the smooth muscle of the body. It spreads through the blood stream and can affect the lungs, liver, blood vessels, or any other soft tissue in the body.

LMS is a type of sarcoma which is a neoplasm of smooth muscle. Smooth muscle cells make up the involuntary muscles, which are found in most parts of the body: in the uterus, stomach and intestines, walls of all blood vessels, and skin.

Leiomyosarcoma is a very rare cancer. It makes up 7% of soft tissue sarcomas; in all, LMS affects 4 out of 1,000,000 people.

Presently there is no cure. Remission can be attained, but this rare cancer can reappear at any time. Because of its rarity, few doctors know how to treat it and it attracts very little research.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Early Outcomes of Soft Tissue Sarcomas Presenting With Metastases and Treated With Chemotherapy

Am J Clin Oncol. 2009 May 8.

King JJ, Fayssoux RS, Lackman RD, Ogilvie CM.
From the *Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Drexel University,
Philadelphia, PA; and daggerDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

OBJECTIVES:: The purpose of this study is to describe outcomes for
patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma treated with
chemotherapy.

METHODS:: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 383 soft tissue
sarcoma patients treated at our institution from 1997 to 2006.
Thirty-five patients met the inclusion criteria-metastatic disease on
presentation; primary tumor outside the abdomen; treatment with
chemotherapy; and minimum follow-up of 3 months. Treatments were
individualized and determined by a multidisciplinary oncology team.
Patient survival was calculated from the diagnostic biopsy to the date
of death or last follow-up using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS:: Mean age was 47 years (range 17-74 years).

Most common tumors involved were MFH and leiomyosarcoma.

Sixteen of 35 (46%) patients had died at last follow-up. Mean patient
survival was 24 months (range 4-102). The 2-year and 5-year survival
rates were 64% and 24%, respectively. Twenty-nine patients (83%)
presented with pulmonary metastasis, 6 with bone metastases (17%), 4
with regional node metastases (11%), and 4 with soft tissue metastases
(11%). Survival was the same for those with pulmonary and only
extrapulmonary metastases. The 10 patients with complete resection or
complete chemotherapy response of all detectable lesions had longer
mean survival (34 months) than the 25 patients who had partial/no
resection or response (20 months) (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS:: Soft tissue sarcoma patients presenting with metastatic
disease have a low survival rate, but complete eradication of tumor
correlated with longer survival. Longer-term studies especially those
tracking the outcome of complete responders and those completely
resected will help determine the efficacy of chemotherapy.

PMID: 19433963 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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