1. Introduction
Sarcoma is a rare disease with dismal prognosis. High-risk sarcomas are initially localized in 70% of the cases and have a recurrence rate of roughly 40% [1]. Major clinical prognostic factors are age, gender, size, and primary location [2]. Other prognostic evaluation requires pathological assessment of FNCLCC (Federation Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer) grade [3] and histotype.
Treatment of patients with sarcoma in reference centers improves their disease-free survival (DFS) [2,4] since quality of resection is the most important factor for relapse. As there are no biomarkers to guide the treatment decision, initiation of anthracycline-based chemotherapy is discussed on a case-by-case basis [5]. Importantly, adjuvant chemotherapy does not counterbalance the impact of inappropriate resection on prognosis [6]. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy allows assessment of treatment response and may facilitate surgical resection. However, selecting patients that derive the most benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy is challenging.
Although progress in molecular biology improved diagnosis and classification of sarcomas [7,8], its overall therapeutic impact remains disappointing. Selected histotypes benefit from targeted therapies, such as imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) [9]. Approximately 40% of sarcomas harbor a potentially targetable molecular alteration [10]; but the reported clinical benefit rates of 25–50% of this approach are usually short-lived [11,12,13].
Molecular Screening for Cancer Treatment Optimization (MOSCATO) [14] and Profilage Lyric Et Région (ProfiLER) [15] are prospective trials for advanced tumors that investigated the therapeutic value of molecularly mapped targeted treatment. Herein, we sought to investigate if genomic markers identified in these trials are associated with DFS and the response to anthracyclines in sarcomas, in the routine clinical care setting.
2. Materials and Methods
This was an ad-hoc pooled analysis of two pan-cancer trials to seek for tumor prognostic and predictive biomarkers, following REMARK guidelines [16,17].
2.1. MOSCATO and ProfiLER Trials
MOSCATO [14] and ProfiLER [15] trials were conducted at Gustave Roussy from December 2011 to March 2016 and at Léon Bérard from February 2013 to February 2017, respectively.
Both these trials were dedicated to advanced tumors having failed at least one line of prior systemic therapy. All patients signed informed consents at inclusion in trial. In order to account for differences in trial, subgroup analysis by trial were done (Supplementary methods: Tables M1 to M15 and Figure M1).
Herein, patients with sarcomas were considered for evaluation. Specific histotypes were excluded from this analysis, since their clinical behavior is different: GIST and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, due to their known molecular biology and response to targeted therapy; follicular dendritic cell sarcomas and histiocytic sarcomas, as these histotypes are considered closer to hematologic malignancies.
2.2. Molecular Data
Molecular analysis comprised targeted next-generation sequencing and comparative genomic hybridization array (Supplementary method Figure M2 and corresponding publications [14,15]).
Molecular analysis in the MOSCATO trial was done on fresh tumor biopsy at inclusion in the trial, after failure of prior systemic therapy. In the ProfiLER trial, archived specimens of initial diagnosis were used for molecular analysis, unless unavailable, in which case a fresh biopsy was obtained or patient considered screen failure for the trial.
Homozygous deletions in tumor suppressor genes and oncogene amplification and mutation were retained as significant molecular alterations. Gene gains or heterozygous deletions were not considered. Only oncogenic mutations classified in the Cosmic database were retained. For clinical data association, the six most frequently altered genes were selected.
2.3. Clinical Data
French Sarcoma Group database was accessed for clinical data collection [4]. This national database includes all patients with sarcomas treated in reference centers, including Gustave Roussy and Léon Bérard. Clinical data in this database were gathered prospectively. For missing information, clinical data were obtained from databases of the clinical trials. Collected clinical data were related to initial diagnosis (age at diagnosis, gender, size, primary tumor location, histology, FNCLCC grade, metastasis at diagnosis) and treatment data (reference center, surgical resection margin status, peri-operative chemotherapy or radiotherapy, anthracycline based chemotherapy setting, modality and response according to RECIST assessed by local radiologists without central review).
2.4. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)
TCGA database includes only patients with previously untreated soft-tissue sarcomas (STS): leiomyosarcomas (LMS), dedifferentiated liposarcomas (DDLPS), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas (UPS), myxofibrosarcomas (MFS), and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST).
Data related to histotype, DFS, and molecular data, such as copy-number alterations and mutations, were downloaded from TCGA via
2.5. Statistical Considerations
Categorical variables were summarized by frequencies and percentages, continuous variables were summarized by median and interquartile range (IQR). The statistical tests used were a chi-square test or a Fisher’s exact test for comparison of categorical variables, as required, and Student t-test for continuous variables.
DFS, time from surgery of initially localized disease to relapse, was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Association of DFS with the variables was assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox models; hazard ratio (HR) < 1 indicated a favorable prognostic impact. For multivariate Cox models, the proportional hazard ratio assumption was verified for each variable included in models.
Objective response rate (ORR) is the proportion of patients who exhibited complete or partial response according to RECIST 1.1, assessed by local radiologists within the population of patients with evaluable response, whether in the neoadjuvant or advanced setting. Binomial logistic regression was used for predictive analysis; odds ratio (OR) > 1 indicated improved response to treatment. The subgroup analysis comprised the setting of prescription (neoadjuvant or advanced), chemotherapy regimen (combination or doxorubicin alone), and STS.
For multivariate analysis of the Cox model and binomial logistic regression, two models were prepared: one reduced, including factors that were significant in the univariate analysis (p ≤ 0.05), and the other complete, with recognized prognostic or predictive factors.
Subgroup analysis in STS and in specific histotypes were ran for survival and response analyses.
All statistical tests were performed using the R software v4.0.3 with survival and rms packages (script and data available upon request).
3. Results
3.1. Population Description
MOSCATO and ProfiLER included 77 and 158 sarcomas (n = 235), respectively: 171 STS, 14 GISTs, 27 bone sarcomas, and 23 small round cell tumors. We excluded from further analysis 14 GISTs, one dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, two dendritic follicular cell sarcomas, and three histiocytic sarcomas. Our final population included 215 sarcomas: 166 STS, 27 bone sarcomas and 23 small round cell tumors, and 49 bone sarcomas (Figure S1: Flow chart).
Most frequent STS histotypes were leiomyosarcoma (n = 53), rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 27), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (n = 20), and liposarcoma (n = 17). Grades 2 and 3 STS were reported in 33% and 50% of the cases, respectively. There were 22 primitive neuro-ectodermic tumors and 18 osteosarcomas.
As reported in Table S1, sarcomas were initially localized in 162 patients (75%) and 155 were surgically removed (71 radical R0 resections, 51 initial surgeries in reference centers, 61 peri-operative anthracycline, and 64 peri-operative radiotherapy administrations).
As reported in Supplementary methods (Tables M1 through M3), population characteristics were comparable for both trials, except for age groups (MOSCATO trial patients were younger; p < 0.001) and for FNCLCC grade (MOSCATO trial had more missing data regarding grade and higher population of grade 2 sarcomas; p = 0.038).
3.2. Association of Molecular Alterations with Clinical Characteristics
A total of 443 significant alterations were reported: 147 amplifications, 164 homozygous deletions, and 132 mutations. The six most frequently altered genes were TP53 (n = 54 with eight deletions and 46 mutations), RB1 (n = 28), CDKN2A (n = 17), PTEN (n = 12), CDK4 (n = 12), and MDM2 (n = 11).
Molecular analysis was done on the primary tumor in 105 cases and on advanced disease tissue in 109 cases. There was no statistical difference in the number of significant molecular alterations identified between the type of tissue biopsied: median alteration per sample was 1 in both groups (IQR = 0–3 in both groups; p = 0.88). As displayed in Table 1, there was no difference in frequency of alterations in any of the six most frequently altered genes according to type of tissue analyzed. Thus, analysis of the cohort with molecular data, including both these two tissue types, were done, since these were not molecularly statistically different.
High grade STS presented more molecular alterations per sample (p = 0.023). Specifically, there were more TP53 alterations in higher grade STS (p = 0.05): in grade 3, 2, and 1 STS there were 38% (n = 23 mutations, 4 deletions, and 45 wild type (WT)), 21% (n = 6 mutations, 4 deletions and 38 WT) and 16% (n = 4 mutations and 21 WT), respectively. This association between grade and TP53 alterations was driven by the ProfiLER cohort essentially (Supplementary Table M6), as there were more missing grade data in the MOSCATO localized cohort.
Due to small effectives, no statistical analysis was done to compare frequency of alterations by histotypes. Leiomyosarcomas, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas, and primitive neuro-ectodermic tumors were the tumors most frequently altered for TP53 with 20, 5, and 6 mutations, respectively (Table S2). In both trials, leiomyosarcomas were the most frequently TP53 altered tumors (Supplementary methods Tables M4 and M5).
In initially localized sarcomas, first recurrence was more frequently metastatic than loco-regional in TP53 altered sarcomas compared to TP53 wild type sarcomas (p = 0.004): there were three local (7.3%) and 38 (93%) metastatic recurrences in the TP53 mutated sarcomas, whereas there were 36 (30%) local and 85 (70%) metastatic relapses in the TP53 wild type sarcomas. This was significantly driven by the ProfiLER cohort due to the number of patients but the same trend was visible in both cohorts (Supplementary methods Table M7).
3.3. Disease-Free Survival
Median DFS in 149 localized surgically resected sarcomas was 14 months (95%CI = 12–18). Median DFS in TP53 WT, deleted, and mutated sarcomas were 16, 10 (HR = 1.55; 95%CI = 0.75–3.19), and 10 months (HR = 1.70; 95%CI = 1.13–2.54), respectively. As displayed in Table 2, TP53 alterations (p = 0.028) were the only parameter significantly associated with DFS in univariate analysis. No other molecular alteration was associated with DFS. This trend was significant in subgroup analysis in the ProfiLER trial (Supplementary methods Table M10). In MOSCATO, the Cox proportional hazard ratio displayed a non-significant trend towards decreased DFS for the TP53 mutated sarcomas (HR = 1.48; 95%CI = 0.71–3.11; p = 0.3; Supplementary methods Table M9).
In the multivariate analysis, TP53 mutations (HR = 2.30; 95%CI = 1.10–4.82; p = 0.027; Table 2), but not deletions, remained a significant prognostic factor in a complete model including histotype, FNCLCC grade, primary location, size, resection margins, peri-operative radiotherapy, and peri-operative anthracyclines. The only other factor significantly associated with impaired DFS was rhabdomyosarcoma histology. In the subgroup analysis, all histotypes of rhabdomyosarcomas had low DFS—the median DFS for embryonal, alveolar, and pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomas was 9, 12, and 2 months, respectively.
In STS, median DFS was 15 months (95%CI = 11–19). TP53 mutations were significantly associated with shorter DFS in univariate analysis (HR = 1.63; 95%CI = 1.04–2.54; Cox p = 0.032), as well as R2 resection margins (HR = 1.70; 95%CI = 1.03–2.82; p = 0.039). In the multivariate model including resection margins and TP53 status, TP53 mutations were the only significant factor associated with impaired DFS (HR = 1.74; 95%CI = 1.05–2.88; p = 0.031).
There was a trend for impaired DFS in all histotype subgroup analysis performed, except endometrial stromal sarcomas (Figure S2).
In the leiomyosarcoma localized group, there were 6 TP53 deleted sarcomas, 15 TP53 mutated sarcomas, and 25 WT sarcomas. Median DFS in deleted, mutated, and WT sarcomas was 10 (95%CI = 6–NA), 10 (95%CI = 8–24), and 19 months (95%CI = 15–54). TP53 mutations were significantly associated with impaired DFS in this histotype in univariate analysis (HR = 2.24; 95%CI = 1.14–4.42; p = 0.019).
In the undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma localized group, there were 1 TP53 deleted, 4 TP53 mutated and 9 TP53 WT sarcomas. Median DFS in TP53 deleted, mutated, and WT sarcomas was 7 (95%CI = NA–NA), 10 (95%CI = 3–NA) and 15 months (95%CI = 8–NA): this trend was not significant.
In primitive neuro-ectodermic tumors, the median DFS was 13 months in TP53 mutated and WT sarcomas—there was no difference.
Since FNCLCC grade is a recognized adverse prognostic factor for DFS and is associated with TP53 alterations in our cohort, we recorded DFS in subgroup analysis according to grade and TP53 alterations (Figure S3). In grade 1 sarcomas, median DFS was 26 (95%CI = 18.23–115.3) and 15 months (95%CI = 5.03-not reached [NR]) for TP53 WT and mutated sarcomas (no deletion in grade 1 sarcomas; p = 0.2), respectively. In grade 2 sarcomas, median DFS was 20 (95%CI = 10.44–37.39), 14 (95%CI = 6.43–NR) and 8 months (95%CI = 7.26–NR) in TP53 WT, deleted and mutated sarcomas (p = 0.053), respectively. In grade 3 sarcomas, median DFS was 13 (95%CI = 9.00–20.47), 10 (95%CI = 1.94–NR) and 10 months (95%CI = 7.36–38.73) in TP53 WT, deleted and mutated sarcomas (p = 0.32), respectively. This trend was consistent in both trials in all analyses (Supplemental methods Figure M1).
3.4. TCGA Analysis
Our cohort includes patients with advanced disease. As this constitutes a bias towards unfavorable prognosis in localized disease, we sought to validate our findings by analyzing TCGA database. TCGA included only patients with localized previously untreated STS, and molecular analysis was done on primary tumor tissue.
In TCGA database, 149 patients with localized STS had available DFS status, of whom 16 displayed TP53 deletions and 56 TP53 mutations. In TP53 deleted, mutated and WT STS, median DFS was not reached (NR), 29 and 74 months, respectively (Figure 1B and Table S3). The prognostic impact was significant only for TP53 mutations (HR = 1.64; 95%CI = 1.01–2.65; Cox p = 0.04; Table S3) but not deletions (HR = 0.87; 95%CI = 0.38–2.02; Cox p = 0.75). In all histotypes harboring TP53 mutations, DFS was non-significantly shorter in the TP53 mutated compared to TP53 WT STS (Figure S4): median DFS in LMS was 29 versus 67 months (Cox p = 0.33), in UPS 13 versus 49 months (Cox p = 0.16) and myxofibrosarcoma 26 months versus NR (Cox p = 0.37).
3.5. Predictive Value of TP53 Mutations
Anthracyclines were administered in 195 patients with bone sarcomas, small round cell tumors, and STS. Amongst them, 161 patients had available data for response (21 adjuvant treatments, 13 missing data): 122 in advanced setting and 39 neoadjuvant treatments; combination regimens in 119 patients and doxorubicin alone in 42 patients.
In the 161 sarcoma patients evaluable, ORR was 38%. In TP53 WT, deleted, and mutated sarcomas (bone sarcomas, small round cell tumors and STS), ORR was 35% (n = 44/125), 20% (n = 1/5) and 55% (n = 17/31), respectively. As displayed in Table S4, all the subgroup analysis conducted according to chemotherapy regimen (combination or doxorubicin alone) and setting (advanced or neoadjuvant), showed a non-significant increased response in TP53-mutated sarcomas, except for doxorubicin alone in the neoadjuvant setting (n = 4; ORR = 0 in both groups). These trends were consistent in both trials separately.
In univariate binomial logistic regression, TP53 mutations were associated with favorable response (OR = 2.24; 95%CI = 1.01–5.03; p = 0.048; Figure 2). No other molecular alteration was associated with response. The use of combination regimen chemotherapy was associated with increased response (OR = 2.94; 95%CI = 1.34–7.04; p = 0.01). Age over 40 years old, complex genomic sarcomas and small round cell tumors histotype were associated with reduced response (p < 0.01, p = 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively).
TP53 mutations remained significantly associated with improved response to anthracyclines (OR = 3.70; 95%CI = 1.20–11.97; p = 0.02) in a complete multivariate model including age, gender, sarcoma type (small round cell tumors, osteosarcomas, chondrosarcomas versus STS), complex genomics, grade, chemotherapy regimen, and setting, as well as in a reduced model including only those factors significant in univariate analysis, namely age, chemotherapy regimen, genomic classification, and TP53 status (OR = 3.24; 95%CI = 1.30–8.45; p = 0.01).
In all STS subgroup analyses, according to chemotherapy setting and regimen, there was a non-significant increased response to anthracyclines in TP53-mutated STS compared to TP53 WT STS (Table S5): ORR was 34%, 20%, and 52% in TP53 WT, deleted, and mutated STS, respectively. These trends were consistent in both trial subgroup analysis, except for neoadjuvant polychemotherapy in the ProfiLER cohort, which displayed an ORR of 67% (n = 5/15) and 66% (n = 3/5) in TP53 WT and mutated sarcomas, respectively.
In binomial logistic regression, in univariate analysis of the STS cohort, combination regimen were associated with increased response (OR = 2.8; 95%CI = 1.23–6.9; p = 0.02); age over 40 year old was associated with impaired response (OR = 0.39; 95%CI = 0.18–0.84; p = 0.02) as well as the other histology group (4 angiosarcomas, 4 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, 5 myxofibrosarcomas, 5 fusiform cell sarcomas, 5 epithelioid sarcomas, and 8 others—OR = 0.27; 95%CI = 0.07–0.91; p = 0.04; Figure S5).
Regarding specific histotypes with frequent TP53 mutations, there was a non–significant trend towards increased response in leiomyosarcomas: ORR was 39%, 30%, and 46%, in TP53 WT, deleted and mutated leiomyosarcomas (OR = 1.35; 95%CI = 0.31–5.84; p = 0.69; Table S6). There was a non-significant trend towards increased response in undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas: ORR was 27%, 0%, and 50% in TP53 WT, deleted and mutated sarcomas (OR = 2.67; 95%CI = 0.23–32.79; p = 0.42; Table S7). There was no difference in ORR in primitive neuro-ectodermic tumors according to TP53 status (Table S8).
4. Discussion
MOSCATO and ProfiLER were prospective trials evaluating the efficacy of molecularly based therapies in advanced tumors. Both trials showed this approach was feasible and efficient in selected tumors, with specific alterations [14,15]. We extracted molecular data of sarcomas from these trials in order to associate it with clinical outcomes for standard-of-care treatment.
We report TP53 mutations are associated with shorter DFS, increased metastatic potential, and increased response to anthracycline-based chemotherapy. They may serve as attractive biomarkers to assist decision-making for neoadjuvant anthracyclines: found in 20–30% of sarcomas [10,19], its assessment is reproducible.
As it is more frequent in leiomyosarcomas and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas, further validation studies should concentrate on these histotypes. Our findings suggest TP53 is associated with other unfavorable prognostic factors, such as FNCLCC grade. Its assessment might be of particular interest in lower grade sarcomas, as the prognostic impact seems stronger in grade 1 and 2 sarcomas, being significant only for grade 2 sarcomas. Assessment of TP53 in sarcomas with more indolent pathologic appearance can be a tool to guide both treatment decision and surveillance—the presence of a TP53 mutation suggests that this indolent pathologic appearance contrasts with a more aggressive biology.
Unfavorable prognostic impact of TP53 mutations is known in various tumors [20] and suggested in some sarcoma histotypes [21,22]. Regarding predictive impact, resistance to anthracyclines can be mediated by p53-dependent cell cycle arrest, not seen in TP53 mutated tumors [23,24]. TP53 mutations are used as a biomarker of response in other cancers [25,26,27]. A previous retrospective study in sarcoma patients reported impaired prognosis of TP53 mutated sarcomas and a trend towards increased time to progression after chemotherapy, which was significant for doxorubicin/ifosfamide-based regimens [28].
Treatment regimens and setting of prescription are likely histotype specific. Thus, multivariate models are particularly useful in the interpretation of these data, as they allow to take into account confounding factors. Since most patients included in our analysis had combination regimen, we cannot rule out an effect of those other agents. Therapeutic value of TP53 mutations probably depends on drugs used [29]. Predictive value of response of TP53 mutations in STS has been assessed with promising data for pazopanib [30,31] and isolated limb perfusion [32], but not regorafenib [33].
The meaning of loss-of-function of TP53 or gain-of-function mutations is different [29,34]. Notably, deletions of TP53 have reduced metastatic potential [28]. Contrarily to other tumor suppressor gene mutations, most TP53 mutations are missense gain-of-function mutations [28,29,34]. Some rare TP53 inactivating mutations might produce clinical behaviors similar to deletions, which our study was not able to evidence. TP53 mutations identified in MOSCATO and ProfiLER trials were different, though overlapping for most exons covered, except one. Our study, due to its inherent heterogeneity in histotypes, could not concentrate on the specific types of TP53 mutations, which is a limitation of our work.
Regarding other biomarkers in the field, CINSARC is a molecular gene expression signature [35] associated with unfavorable prognosis in STS. Its predictive value is currently under investigation. Tertiary lymphoid structures have a prognostic value in STS and predictive of response to immunotherapy [36]. TP53 alterations modify the immune microenvironment [37] and this interaction warrants further research. For response to anthracyclines, Topoisomerase 2A expression is a predictive factor [38] with no prognostic impact. Its overexpression is associated with TP53 mutations in STS [39].
MOSCATO and ProfiLER were dedicated to advanced tumors and underestimate prognostic markers of initially localized disease, as all patients relapsed. Our data are consistent with TCGA database. For predictive analysis, patients in these trials were included after failure of standard-of-care therapy, which selected patients with overall better responsiveness to systemic therapy. Patients were heavily pre-treated and still fit for inclusion in trials. The overall ORR is elevated in our cohort [40]. This selection bias again underestimated the predictive factors of response as the overall population displayed better responsiveness.
In order to increase power of our analysis, we pooled two different trials, which had methodological differences. As sarcoma are rare and heterogeneous diseases, data are scarce and our aim was to provide a descriptive analysis of the impact of molecular alterations on clinical course. However, by pooling these different trials, we might have introduced bias in the previous analysis. We provided detailed data on both trials in the Supplementary methods section (Tables M1 through M15 and Figure M1), which consists of trial-specific subgroup analyses of all tests included in the pooled analysis. This detailed analysis emphasizes some difference across trials. However, persistent trends were found across trials. Concerning our DFS data, we have sought to validate it through TCGA, which showed a consistent trend.
Validation studies are currently underway within prospective trials in homogeneous histotypes as part of the translational analysis. The predictive value of TP53 mutations is being assessed in the LMS04 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02997358). The prognostic value of TP53 will be assessed within the RT-immune trial (
5. Conclusions
Post validation, TP53 mutation may serve as a biomarker to assist decision-making for neoadjuvant chemotherapy in sarcomas. Further research should focus on leiomyosarcomas and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas, as these sarcomas present more frequent TP53 mutations. Both these histotypes showed consistent trends in our data. A better understanding of the role of the different types of alterations in TP53 will also help guide treatment, as new TP53 targeted agents are under development in other tumor types.
Supplementary Materials
The following are available online at
Author Contributions
Conceptualization: E.F.N., A.L.C., A.D.; data curation: E.F.N., R.B., B.M., K.H., J.-Y.B., A.D.; formal analysis: E.F.N., E.A.; investigation: E.F.N., R.B., C.H., O.M., S.D., M.B., O.T., I.R.-C., J.-Y.B., C.M., A.L.C., A.D.; methodology: E.F.N., E.A., A.L.C., A.D.; project administration: E.F.N., C.M., A.L.C., A.D.; resources: R.B., J.-Y.B., C.M., A.L.C., A.D.; supervision: R.B., M.B., I.R.-C., J.-Y.B., C.M., A.L.C., A.D.; visualization: E.F.N., A.L.C., A.D.; writing original draft: E.F.N., E.A., O.M., M.B., A.L.C., A.D.; critical review and editing: E.A., R.B., C.H., O.M., S.D., B.M., K.H., M.B., O.T., I.R.-C., J.-Y.B., C.M., A.L.C., A.D. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This research received no external funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not applicable. We used data collected within specific trials, for which approval had been obtained at the time of the study trial.
Informed Consent Statement
For both trials, protocol was approved by institutional review committees at Gustave Roussy for MOSCATO and at Centre Leon Berard for ProfiLER. Signed informed consent was mandatory for participation in the study. Use of the previous acquired data was declared to the French national data registry under the MR004 regulation, and consent was waived for this specific grouped study. Use of the data from the French sarcoma group national database was declared in the registry of the database.
Data Availability Statement
The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
No written permission was given for any acknowledgements. E.F.N.: Research grants from fondation Nuovo-Soldati and Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale; J.-Y.B. holds grants from NetSARC (INCA and DGOS) and RREPS (INCA and DGOS), RESOS (INCA and DGOS), LYRICAN (INCA-DGOS-INSERM 12563), Association DAM’s, Eurosarc (FP7-278742), Fondation ARC, Infosarcome, InterSARC (INCA), LabEx DEvweCAN (ANR-10-LABX0061), PIA Institut Convergence François Rabelais PLAsCAN (PLASCAN, 17-CONV-0002), La Ligue de L’Ain contre le Cancer, La Ligue contre le Cancer, and EURACAN (EC 739521), RHU4 DEPGYN (ANR-18-RHUS-0009).
Conflicts of Interest
E.A.: travel expenses: Mundipharma. Lectures and educational activities: Sanofi Genzymes, Lilly-Oncology; O.M. received consultancy fees from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Blueprint Medicines, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Ipsen, Lundbeck, Merck Sharpe & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Servier, and Vifor Pharma. He is a shareholder of Amplitude Surgical, Ipsen and Transgene; I.R.C.: honoraria (self) from Abbvie, Agenus, Advaxis, BMS, PharmaMar, Genmab, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Roche, GSK, MSD, Deciphera, Mersena, Merck Sereno, Novartis, Amgen, Tesaro and Clovis; honoraria (institution) from GSK, MSD, Roche and BMS; advisory/consulting fees from Abbvie, Agenus, Advaxis, BMS, PharmaMar, Genmab, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Roche/Genentech, GSK, MSD, Deciphera, Mersena, Merck Sereno, Novartis, Amgen, Tesaro and Clovis; research grant/funding (self) from MSD, Roche and BMS; research grant/funding (institution) from MSD, Roche, BMS, Novartis, Astra Zeneca and Merck Sereno; and travel support from Roche and AstraZeneca and GSK; J.-Y.B.: COI Research support and honoraria from Novartis, GSK, Bayer, Roche, Deciphera, Ignyta, Pharmamar, MSD; CM: consulting or advisory role: Astellas Pharma, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Debiopharm Group, Genentech/Roche, IPSEN, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, ORION, Taiho Pharmaceutical, Blueprint Medicines, INNATE PHARMA, Pharmamar, Faron Pharmaceuticals; A.L.C.: honoraria from Bayer and Pharmamar; M.B., C.H., S.D., K.H., B.M. declare no conflicts of interest.
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Figures and Tables
Enlarge this image.Figure 1. Disease-free survival according to TP53 status. (A): in patients with localized surgically resected sarcomas in the MOSCATO and ProfiLER cohort (n = 149); (B): in The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort of localized soft-tissue sarcomas (n = 149). WT = wild type.
Enlarge this image.Figure 2. Predictive response to anthracyclines: factors associated with objective response rate to anthracyclines in MOSCATO and ProfiLER (n = 161) in binomial logistic regression. (A): forest plot of Odds ratio (OR), in univariate analysis; (B): forest plot of OR in complete multivariate modela; (C): forest plot of OR in reduced multivariate modelb. OR = odds ratio; 95% CI = 95% confidence interval. a Complete model included: age, gender, histotype (small round cell tumors, chondrosarcomas, osteosarcomas versus soft-tissue sarcomas), setting of prescription (metastatic versus neoadjuvant), regimen (combination therapy or monotherapy), genomic (complex versus simple) and TP53 alterations. b Reduced model included only variable with p< 0.05 in univariate model: age, regimen (combination therapy or monotherapy), genomic (complex versus simple) and TP53 alterations.
Molecular description of the cohort: the six most frequently altered genes in the cohort, the alteration types, and their distribution according to the tissue type biopsied.
| Gene | Molecular Alteration | Samples | Tissue Biopsied | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Overall |
Primary Tumor |
Metastasis |
Unknown |
p-Value (a) | |
| TP53 | - | - | - | - | - | 0.3 |
| Wild Type | 162 (75%) | 78 (74%) | 84 (77%) | - | - | |
| Deletion | 8 (3.7%) | 5 (4.8%) | 3 (2.8%) | - | - | |
| Mutation | 45 (21%) | 22 (21%) | 22 (20%) | 1 (100%) | - | |
| CDKN2A | - | - | - | - | - | 0.7 |
| Wild Type | 198 (92%) | 97 (92%) | 100 (92%) | 1 (100%) | - | |
| Deletion | 16 (7.4%) | 7 (6.7%) | 9 (8.3%) | - | - | |
| Mutation | 1 (0.5%) | 1 (1.0%) | - | - | - | |
| RB1 | - | - | - | - | - | 0.081 |
| Wild Type | 187 (87%) | 89 (85%) | 98 (90%) | - | - | |
| Deletion | 25 (12%) | 15 (14%) | 9 (8.3%) | 1 (100%) | - | |
| Mutation | 3 (1.4%) | 1 (1.0%) | 2 (1.8%) | - | - | |
| PTEN | - | - | - | - | 0.9 | |
| Wild Type | 203 (94%) | 100 (95%) | 102 (94%) | 1 (100%) | - | |
| Deletion | 10 (4.7%) | 4 (3.8%) | 6 (5.5%) | - | - | |
| Mutation | 2 (0.9%) | 1 (1.0%) | 1 (0.9%) | - | - | |
| MDM2 | - | - | - | - | - | >0.9 |
| Wild Type | 204 (95%) | 100 (95%) | 103 (94%) | 1 (100%) | - | |
| Amplification | 11 (5.1%) | 5 (4.8%) | 6 (5.5%) | - | - | |
| CDK4 | - | - | - | - | - | 0.4 |
| Wild Type | 203 (94%) | 101 (96%) | 101 (93%) | 1 (100%) | - | |
| Amplification | 12 (5.6%) | 4 (3.8%) | 8 (7.3%) | - | - | |
(a): p-values: Fisher’s exact test.
Table 2Disease-free survival according to clinical and molecular characteristics in localized surgically resected sarcomas.
| Variable | Number of |
Median DFS (months) | Cox Univariate |
Cox Univariate: |
Multivariate Model (a): |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | - | - | - | 0.46 | - |
| Female | 84 | 16 | - | - | - |
| Male | 65 | 10 | 1.13 (0.81–1.57) | - | - |
| Age | - | - | - | 0.89 | |
| ≤40 | 53 | 12 | - | - | |
| >40 | 96 | 15 | 1.03 (0.73–1.45) | - | |
| Histotype | - | - | 0.81 | ||
| Leiomyosarcomas | 46 | 16 | - | - | - |
| Liposarcomas | 15 | 10 | 1.24 (0.69–2.22) | - | 0.91 (0.36–2.28, p = 0.83) |
| UPS | 14 | 13 | 1.11 (0.60–2.03) | - | 1.15 (0.45–2.93, p = 0.77) |
| Rhabdomyosarcomas | 12 | 9 | 1.33 (0.67–2.65) | - | 16.11 (1.71–151.85, p = 0.02) |
| ESS | 8 | 37 | 0.57 (0.27–1.23) | - | 0.78 (0.26–2.38, p = 0.67) |
| Synovial Sarcoma | 3 | 16 | 0.76 (0.23–2.48) | - | 0.58 (0.11–3.22, p = 0.54) |
| PNET | 12 | 13 | 0.90 (0.46–1.76) | - | 4.02 (0.40–40.63, p = 0.24) |
| Osteosarcomas | 10 | 12 | 1.21 (0.61–2.41) | - | 2.16 (0.59–7.93, p = 0.25) |
| Chondrosarcomas | 5 | 48 | 0.73 (0.29–1.85) | - | 0.55 (0.11–2.79, p = 0.47) |
| Other | 24 | 11 | 1.12 (0.68–1.85) | - | 1.58 (0.66–3.79, p = 0.31) |
| Grade | - | - | 0.053 | - | |
| 1 | 19 | 24 | - | - | - |
| 2 | 38 | 14 | 1.90 (1.07–3.38) | - | 1.48 (0.70–3.13, p = 0.31) |
| 3 | 55 | 12 | 1.89 (1.10–3.24) | - | 1.55 (0.72–3.29, p = 0.26) |
| Genomic profile | - | - | 0.52 | - | |
| Simple | 48 | 14 | - | - | - |
| Complex | 101 | 14 | 1.12 (0.79–1.59) | - | - |
| Primary location | - | - | 0.64 | - | |
| Extremities | 48 | 12 | - | - | 1.18 (0.47–2.93, p = 0.73) |
| Abdominal | 21 | 16 | 1.07 (0.62–1.84) | - | 1.61 (0.75–3.47, p = 0.22) |
| Retroperitoneal | 19 | 13 | 1.36 (0.80–2.34) | - | 0.69 (0.23–2.09, p = 0.51) |
| Uterus | 24 | 17 | 0.81 (0.50–1.34) | - | 1.19 (0.39–3.63, p = 0.76) |
| Head and Neck | 11 | 10 | 1.19 (0.62–2.30) | - | 0.68 (0.30–1.53, p = 0.36) |
| Thorax | 25 | 12 | 1.18 (0.72–1.92) | - | 1.18 (0.47–2.93, p = 0.73) |
| Size, mm | - | - | 0.83 | - | |
| 0–50 | 36 | 12 | - | - | - |
| 50–100 | 45 | 18 | 0.95 (0.60–1.49) | - | 1.08 (0.49–2.35, p = 0.86) |
| >100 | 45 | 10 | 1.08 (0.69–1.69) | - | 1.53 (0.69–3.38, p = 0.30) |
| Surgeon | - | - | 0.46 | - | |
| Network | 50 | 12 | - | - | - |
| Outside network | 91 | 15 | 0.88 (0.62–1.25) | - | 1.24 (0.63–2.45, p = 0.53) |
| Resection margin | - | - | - | 0.068 | - |
| R0 | 71 | 15 | - | - | - |
| R1 | 37 | 12 | 1.46 (0.97–2.21) | - | 1.19 (0.63–2.27, p = 0.59) |
| R2 | 27 | 10 | 1.58 (1.00–2.48) | - | 1.90 (0.99–3.66, p = 0.05) |
| Radiotherapy of primary tumor | 0.85 | - | |||
| No | 90 | 13 | - | - | - |
| Yes | 59 | 15 | 0.97 (0.69–1.35) | - | 0.93 (0.52–1.66, p = 0.82) |
| Peri-operative anthracyclines | - | - | 0.31 | - | |
| No | 89 | 15 | - | - | - |
| Yes | 59 | 12 | 1.19 (0.85–1.66) | - | 0.82 (0.41–1.63, p = 0.57) |
| TP53 | - | - | - | 0.028 | - |
| Wild Type | 109 | 16 | - | - | - |
| Deletion | 8 | 10 | 1.55 (0.75–3.19) | - | 2.31 (0.78–6.88, p = 0.13) |
| Mutation | 32 | 10 | 1.70 (1.13–2.54) | - | 2.30 (1.10–4.82, p = 0.03) |
DFS = disease-free survival; ESS = endometrial stromal sarcoma; HR = hazard ratio; PNET = primitive neuro-ectodermic tumors; UPS = undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma; (a) multivariate model included: histotype, grade, location, size, peri-operative chemotherapy, peri-operative radiotherapy, resection margins. Values in bold have p-value < 0.05
© 2021 by the authors.
Details
; Auclin, Edouard 2 ; Bahleda, Rastilav 3 ; Honoré, Charles 4 ; Mir, Olivier 5
; Dumont, Sarah 6 ; Mery, Benoite 1 ; Khalil Hodroj 1
; Brahmi, Mehdi 1 ; Trédan, Olivier 1 ; Ray-Coquard, Isabelle 1
; Blay, Jean-Yves 1
; Massard, Christophe 3 ; Axel Le Cesne 6 ; Dufresne, Armelle 1 1 Centre Léon Bérard, Medical Oncology Department, 69008 Lyon, France;
2 Oncology Department, Hopital Européen Georges Pompidou, 75015 Paris, France;
3 DITEP (Département d’Innovation Therapeutique et d’Essais Précoces), Drug Development Department, Gustave Roussy, 94805 Villejuif, France;
4 Surgical Oncology Department, Gustave Roussy, 94805 Villejuif, France;
5 Ambulatory Cancer Care Department, Gustave Roussy, 94805 Villejuif, France;
6 Medical Oncology Department, Gustave Roussy, 94805 Villejuif, France;