Low-Grade Fibromyxoid Sarcoma: Incidence, Treatment Strategy of Metastases, and Clinical Significance of theFUSGene

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS), present treatment results of metastatic LGFMS, and investigate the clinical significance of theFUSgene rearrangement.Methods. This study included 14 consecutive LGFMS patients treated at the Aarhus Sarcoma Centre in 1979–2010. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis forFUSbreak-apart was performed for all patients.Results. The incidence of LGFMS was 0.18 per million, representing 0.6% of all soft tissue sarcomas. Four patients needed multiple biopsies/resections before the correct diagnosis was made. Four patients experienced local recurrence, and three patients developed metastases. The treatment of metastatic LGFMS varied from multiagent chemotherapy to repeated, selective surgery of operable metastases. The best response to chemotherapy was short-term stabilization of disease progression, seen with Trabectedin. The prevalence of theFUSbreak-apart was 21.4%. We found no significant difference in clinical characteristics and outcomes in correlation with theFUSbreak-apart.Conclusion. LGFMS is a rare disease with multiple challenges. TheFUSbreak-apart was not associated with local recurrence or metastases in our study. To date the only treatment resulting in disease-free periods is surgery; however further investigation into the management of metastatic LGFMS is necessary.