Clinical course and features of soft tissue sarcomas in geriatric patients: a single-center experience

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to examine the disease course in geriatric patients with soft tissue sarcoma and determine the risk factors for mortality. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients who were treated at Istanbul University Oncology Institute from January 2000 to August 2021. RESULTS: Eighty patients were included in the study. The patients’ median age was 69 years (range, 65–88 years). The median overall survival of patients diagnosed between the ages of 65 and 74 years was 70 months, and that of patients diagnosed at the age of ≤75 years was significantly lower at 46 months. The median survival of patients who did and did not undergo surgical resection was 66 and 11 months, respectively, with a significant difference. The median overall survival of patients with positive and negative surgical margins was 58 and 96 months, respectively, also with a significant difference. Age at diagnosis and recurrence/metastasis significantly affected mortality. A 1-year increase in the age at diagnosis increased mortality by 1.147 times. CONCLUSION: Age of >75 years, inability to undergo surgery, positive surgical margins, and head and neck location may be associated with a poor prognosis in geriatric patients with soft tissue sarcoma.