Survival predictors of metastatic angiosarcomas: a surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program population-based retrospective study

• Main Authors: Shihong Ren, Yucheng Wang, Zhan Wang, Jinxiang Shao, Zhaoming Ye
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2020-08-01
• Series: BMC Cancer
• Subjects: Angiosarcoma; Survival predictors; Overall survival; SEER; Retrospective study; Treatment
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-020-07300-7

Abstract Background Angiosarcomas (AS) have poor prognosis and often metastasize to distant sites. The potential predictors of metastatic angiosarcomas (MAS) have not been extensively investigated. The main objective of this study was to identify survival predictors of MAS. Methods Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) datasets were used to identify patients with MAS from 2010 to 2016. Risk predictors were determined with the aid of Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression model analyses. Results A total of 284 MAS patients met the study entry criteria. Among these, 121 patients (42.6%) were diagnosed with metastasis in bone, 26 in brain (9.2%), 86 in liver (30.3%) and 171 in lung (60.2%). Overall, 96 patients (33.8%) had two or more metastatic sites. The 1- and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were 20.8 and 3.8% while 1- and 3-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates were 22.0 and 5.2%, respectively. Cox regression analysis revealed chemotherapy, radiation treatment (RT) and tumor size ≤10 cm as independent favorable predictors of OS. In terms of CSS, tumor grade IV, tumor size > 10 cm and absence of chemotherapy were independent adverse predictors. Surgery did not prolong survival outcomes (both OS and CSS) in the current cohort. Conclusion MAS is associated with extremely poor survival. Chemotherapy, RT, and tumor size are independent predictors of OS. Chemotherapy and tumor size are independent prognostic factors of CSS. Chemotherapy is therefore recommended as the preferred treatment option for MAS patients.