Preoperative accelerated radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy in a defined cohort of patients with high risk soft tissue sarcoma: a Scandinavian Sarcoma Group study.

Background: We recently reported outcomes from a Scandinavian Sarcoma Group adjuvant study (SSG XX group A) conducted on localized and operable high risk soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of the extremities and trunk wall. SSG XX, group B, comprised of patients in a defined cohort with locally advanced STS considered at high risk for intralesional surgery. These patients received preoperative accelerated radiotherapy, together with neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy.

A prospective study on cancer risk after total hip replacements for 41,402 patients linked to the Cancer registry of Norway.

Background: Concerns have been raised that implants used in total hip replacements (THR) could lead to increased cancer risk. Several different materials, metals and fixation techniques are used in joint prostheses and different types of articulation can cause an increased invasion of particles or ions into the human body.

Methods: Patients with THR registered in the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register during 1987-2009 were linked to the Cancer registry of Norway.

The Scandinavian Sarcoma Group Central Register: 6,000 patients after 25 years of monitoring of referral and treatment of extremity and trunk wall soft-tissue sarcoma.

Purpose - We wanted to examine the potential of the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group (SSG) Central Register, and evaluate referral and treatment practice for soft-tissue sarcomas in the extremities and trunk wall (STS) in the Nordic countries. Background - Based on incidence rates from the literature, 8,150 (7,000-9,300) cases of STS of the extremity and trunk wall should have been diagnosed in Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden from 1987 through 2011. The SSG Register has 6,027 cases registered from this period, with 5,837 having complete registration of key variables.

Denosumab in patients with giant-cell tumor of bone in Norway: results from a nationwide cohort.

Background: Denosumab is a relatively new treatment option for patients with giant-cell tumor of bone (GCTB). The purpose of this study was to report the results for patients treated in Norway.

Materials And Methods: Patients treated with denosumab for GCTB were identified from the clinical databases at the Norwegian sarcoma reference centers.

Estimated cumulative radiation dose received by diagnostic imaging during staging and treatment of operable Ewing sarcoma 2005-2012.

Background: Patients with Ewing sarcoma are subject to various diagnostic procedures that incur exposure to ionising radiation.

Objective: To estimate the radiation doses received from all radiologic and nuclear imaging episodes during diagnosis and treatment, and to determine whether F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography - computed tomography (F-FDG PET-CT) is a major contributor of radiation.

Materials And Methods: Twenty Ewing sarcoma patients diagnosed in Norway in 2005-2012 met the inclusion criteria (age <30 years, operable disease, uncomplicated chemotherapy and surgery, no metastasis or residual disease within a year of diagnosis).

F-18-FDG PET-CT in children and young adults with Ewing sarcoma diagnosed in Norway during 2005-2012: a national population-based study.

Background: To examine national imaging strategies regarding the use of F-18-FDG PET-CT in patients with Ewing sarcoma and study factors that might influence the use of PET-CT, such as tumour biology (Picci grade of operation specimen), clinical disease stage and age.

Methods: We examined the medical records including pathology and imaging of all patients below 30 years diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in Norway in 2005-2012.

Results: Of 61 patients treated at one of the two national sarcoma treatment service centres (Oslo: 35, Bergen: 26), 29 patients had localized disease, 8 had tumour extending to organs nearby and 24 had metastases.

Surgery of non-spinal skeletal metastases in renal cell carcinoma: No effect of preoperative embolization?

Background And Purpose: Surgery for metastases of renal cell carcinoma has increased in the last decade. It carries a risk of massive blood loss, as tumors are hypervascular and the surgery is often extensive. Preoperative embolization is believed to facilitate surgery.

Referral patterns, treatment and outcome of high-grade malignant bone sarcoma in Scandinavia--SSG Central Register 25 years' experience.

Aims: The objectives of this study were to present changes in referral patterns, treatment and survival in patients with high-grade malignant bone sarcoma in Sweden and Norway based on data in the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group (SSG) Central Register.

Method: Data on 1,437 patients with diagnosis 1986-2010 was analyzed.

Results: Osteosarcoma was the most frequentl diagnosis (45%), followed by Ewing sarcoma (21%) and chondrosarcoma (17%).

Targeting a novel bone degradation pathway in primary bone cancer by inactivation of the collagen receptor uPARAP/Endo180.

In osteosarcoma, a primary mesenchymal bone cancer occurring predominantly in younger patients, invasive tumour growth leads to extensive bone destruction. This process is insufficiently understood, cannot be efficiently counteracted and calls for novel means of treatment. The endocytic collagen receptor, uPARAP/Endo180, is expressed on various mesenchymal cell types and is involved in bone matrix turnover during normal bone growth.

Prognostic factors and follow-up strategy for superficial soft-tissue sarcomas: Analysis of 622 surgically treated patients from the scandinavian sarcoma group register.

Background And Objectives: Our study aimed to describe the clinical outcome of patients with superficial soft-tissue sarcomas (SSTS), define prognostic factors and provide evidence for a rational surveillance scheme.

Methods: Data for 622 consecutive, surgically treated SSTS patients were retrieved from the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group Register. We assessed the rates of local recurrence (LR) and metastasis (M), as well as overall survival (OS), local recurrence free-survival (LRFS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS) of the cohort.

Pelvic irradiation does not increase the risk of hip replacement in patients with gynecological cancer. A cohort study based on 8,507 patients.

Background And Purpose: Long-term survivors of cancer can develop adverse effects of the treatment. 60% of cancer patients survive for at least 5 years after diagnosis. Pelvic irradiation can cause bone damage in these long-term survivors, with increased risk of fracture and degeneration of the hip.

Prognostic role of en-bloc resection and late onset of bone metastasis in patients with bone-seeking carcinomas of the kidney, breast, lung, and prostate: SSG study on 672 operated skeletal metastases.

Background And Objectives: In metastatic disease, decisions regarding potential surgery require reliable data about the patient's survival. In this study, we evaluated different prognostic factors and their impact in four common primary tumors causing bone metastases.

Methods: Data were acquired from the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group (SSG) metastasis registry.

Patterns of local recurrence and dose fractionation of adjuvant radiation therapy in 462 patients with soft tissue sarcoma of extremity and trunk wall.

Purpose: To study the impact of dose fractionation of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) on local recurrence (LR) and the relation of LR to radiation fields.

Methods And Materials: LR rates were analyzed in 462 adult patients with soft tissue sarcoma who underwent surgical excision and adjuvant RT at five Scandinavian sarcoma centers from 1998 to 2009. Medical records were reviewed for dose fractionation parameters and to determine the location of the LR relative to the radiation portals.

External validation of the Bayesian Estimated Tools for Survival (BETS) models in patients with surgically treated skeletal metastases.

Background: We recently developed two Bayesian networks, referred to as the Bayesian-Estimated Tools for Survival (BETS) models, capable of estimating the likelihood of survival at 3 and 12 months following surgery for patients with operable skeletal metastases (BETS-3 and BETS-12, respectively). In this study, we attempted to externally validate the BETS-3 and BETS-12 models using an independent, international dataset.

Methods: Data were collected from the Scandinavian Skeletal Metastasis Registry for patients with extremity skeletal metastases surgically treated at eight major Scandinavian referral centers between 1999 and 2009.

Pathological subtrochanteric fractures in 194 patients: a comparison of outcome after surgical treatment of pathological and non-pathological fractures.

Background: The surgical treatment of pathological subtrochanteric fractures has been associated with technical difficulties and frequent failures. We analyzed survival, risk factors for death, and outcome after surgical treatment.

Methods: The study group consisted of 194 patients with pathological subtrochanteric femur fractures operated during 1999-2009.

Reliability of Margin Assessment after Surgery for Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcoma: The SSG Experience.

Surgery remains the mainstay of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) treatment and has been the primary treatment for the majority of patients in Scandinavia during the last 30 years although the use of adjuvant radiotherapy has increased. Patient and treatment characteristics have been recorded in the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group (SSG) Register since 1987. When the effect of new radiotherapy guidelines from 1998 was evaluated, the reliability of surgical margin assessments among different Scandinavian institutions was investigated.

Complications and survival after surgical treatment of 214 metastatic lesions of the humerus.

Background: The humerus is the second most common long-bone site of metastatic bone disease. We report complications, risk factors for failure, and survival of a large series of patients operated on for skeletal metastases of the humerus.

Materials And Methods: This study was based on 208 patients treated surgically for 214 metastatic lesions of the humerus.

Long-term risk of receiving a total hip replacement in cancer patients.

Aim: To investigate whether cancer patients have an increased risk of receiving a total hip replacement compared to the standard population of Norway.

Materials And Methods: By linking of The Cancer Register of Norway and The Norwegian Arthroplasty Register we obtained information on cancer diagnoses (type, date of diagnosis), total hip arthroplasties and date of death for all patients living in Norway. This includes 741,901 patients categorized into three groups: 652,197 patients with at least one cancer diagnosis but no hip arthroplasties, 72,469 patients with at least one hip arthroplasty but no cancer diagnosis and 17,235 patients who have at least one cancer diagnosis and at least one hip arthroplasty.

Liposarcoma: outcome based on the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group register.

Background: The aim was to study the clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and outcome of liposarcoma in an unselected, population-based patient sample, and to establish whether treatment was according to the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group (SSG) treatment guidelines.

Methods: The SSG Pathology Board reviewed 319 liposarcoma cases reported between 1986 and 1998. After the review, 237 patients without metastasis were analyzed for local recurrence rate in relation to surgical margins, radiotherapy, occurrence of metastasis, and survival.

Cement is recommended in intralesional surgery of giant cell tumors: a Scandinavian Sarcoma Group study of 294 patients followed for a median time of 5 years.

Background: Giant cell tumors of bone rarely metastasize but often recur locally after surgery. There is limited knowledge about the risk of recurrence related to different types of treatment.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed factors affecting the local recurrence rate in 294 patients with giant cell tumors of the extremities using prospectively collected material from 13 centers.

Radiotherapy to improve local control regardless of surgical margin and malignancy grade in extremity and trunk wall soft tissue sarcoma: a Scandinavian sarcoma group study.

Purpose: Adjuvant radiotherapy has during the past decades become increasingly used in the treatment of localized soft tissue sarcoma. We evaluated the effect of radiotherapy (RT) on local recurrence rates (LRRs) in Scandinavia between 1986 and 2005.

Methods And Materials: A total of 1,093 adult patients with extremity or trunk wall soft tissue sarcoma treated at four Scandinavian sarcoma centers were stratified according to the treatment period (1986-1991, 1992-1997, and 1998-2005).