Secondary hematological malignancies in patients with sarcoma: A single‑center retrospective study

Abstract

The present retrospective study investigated the clinical features and prognosis of secondary hematological malignancies (SHMs) in patients with sarcoma at Korea Cancer Center Hospital (Seoul, South Korea). Patients who had been diagnosed with SHMs after having received treatment for sarcoma between January 2000 and May 2023 were enrolled. Clinical data were collected from the patients' medical records. Clinical characteristics were analyzed, including SHM incidence, type and prognosis. Of 2,953 patients with sarcoma, 18 (0.6%) were diagnosed with SHMs. Their median age at the time of sarcoma diagnosis was 39.5 (range, 9-72) years, and 74% (n=14) of these patients were male. The histological features of sarcoma varied, with osteosarcoma diagnosed in nine patients (50%). All patients with sarcoma underwent surgical treatment, and 16 (88.8%) received chemotherapy. The most common type of SHMs was acute myeloid leukemia (n=6; 33.3%), followed by myelodysplastic syndrome (n=5; 27.7%). The median latency period between the sarcoma diagnosis and SHM identification was 30 (range, 11-121) months. A total of 13 (72.2%) patients received treatment for the SHM. The median overall survival after SHM diagnosis was 15.7 (range, 0.4-154.9) months. The incidence of SHMs in sarcoma in the present study was consistent with that reported previously. The presence of SHMs was associated with a poor patient prognosis, especially if treatment for SHMs was not administered.

Keywords: RT; SHM; latency; sarcoma; secondary malignancies.

Figure 1.

Flowchart of patient inclusion. MFH, malignant fibrous histiocytoma; MPNST, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor; UPS, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma.

Figure 2.

Timeline-based clinical history of 18 patients diagnosed with SHMs after sarcoma diagnosis. Yellow line, patients who received SHM treatment; light blue line, patients who did not receive SHM treatment; orange X, diagnosis of a SHM; yellow-green square, death; blue arrow, survival. SHM, secondary hematological malignancy.