Cancers (May 2023)

Predictive Biomarkers of Pathological Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcomas

  • Anna Szumera-Ciećkiewicz,
  • Klaudia Bobak,
  • Mateusz J. Spałek,
  • Kamil Sokół,
  • Michał Wągrodzki,
  • Daria Owczarek,
  • Monika Kawecka,
  • Beata Puton,
  • Hanna Koseła-Paterczyk,
  • Piotr Rutkowski,
  • Anna M. Czarnecka

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15112960
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 11
p. 2960

Abstract

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Background: Marginally resectable and unresectable soft tissue sarcomas (STS) remain a therapy challenge due to the lack of highly active treatment. The aim of the study was to identify a biomarker to predict the pathological response (PR) to preplanned treatment of these STSs. Methods: In the phase II clinical trial (NCT03651375), locally advanced STS patients received preoperative treatment with a combination of doxorubicin-ifosfamide chemotherapy and 5 × 5 Gy radiotherapy. PR to the treatment was classified using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer–Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group recommendations. We have chosen HIF-1α, CD163, CD68, CD34, CD105, and γH2AFX proteins, rendering different biological phenomena, for biomarker study. Results: Nineteen patients were enrolled and in four cases a good PR was reported. The high expression of HIF-1α before surgery showed a negative correlation with PR, which means a poor response to therapy. Furthermore, the samples after surgery had decreased expression of HIF-1α, which confirmed the correlation with PR. However, high expression of γH2AFX positively correlated with PR, which provides better PR. The high number of positive-staining TAMs and the high IMVD did not correlate with PR. Conclusions: HIF1α and γH2AFX could be potential biomarkers for PR prediction after neoadjuvant treatment in STS.

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