The effect of married status on cancer-specific mortality in nonmetastatic pelvic liposarcoma patients according to sex.

Background: In nonmetastatic pelvic liposarcoma patients, it is unknown whether married status is associated with better cancer-control outcome defined as cancer-specific mortality (CSM). We addressed this knowledge gap and hypothesized that married status is associated with lower CSM rates in both male and female patients.

Methods: Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2000-2020), nonmetastatic pelvic liposarcoma patients were identified. Kaplan-Meier plots and univariable and multivariable Cox regression models (CRMs) predicting CSM according to marital status were used in the overall cohort and in male and female subgroups.

Results: Of 1078 liposarcoma patients, 764 (71%) were male and 314 (29%) female. Of 764 male patients, 542 (71%) were married. Conversely, of 314 female patients, 192 (61%) were married. In the overall cohort, 5-year cancer-specific mortality-free survival (CSM-FS) rates were 89% for married versus 83% for unmarried patients (Δ = 6%). In multivariable CRMs, married status did not independently predict lower CSM (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.74, p = 0.06). In males, 5-year CSM-FS rates were 89% for married versus 86% for unmarried patients (Δ = 3%). In multivariable CRMs, married status did not independently predict lower CSM (HR: 0.85, p = 0.4). In females, 5-year CSM-FS rates were 88% for married versus 79% for unmarried patients (Δ = 9%). In multivariable CRMs, married status independently predicted lower CSM (HR: 0.58, p = 0.03).

Conclusions: In nonmetastatic pelvic liposarcoma patients, married status independently predicted lower CSM only in female patients. In consequence, unmarried female patients should ideally require more assistance and more frequent follow-up than their married counterparts.