Phase 2 study of moderately hypofractionated preoperative radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma

The standard preoperative radiotherapy regimen for soft tissue sarcoma is 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks. This regimen results in excellent local control, with major wound complications occurring in approximately 35% of the patients. The phase 2 HYPORT-STS trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) evaluated moderately hypofractionated preoperative radiotherapy of 42.75 Gy in 15 fractions over 3 weeks. The regime resulted in major wound complication in 31%, no acute radiation toxicity of grade 3 or worse, and later radiation toxicity of grade 3 or higher in 3%. The authors conclude that moderately hypofractioated radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcomas was safe and could be a more convenient alternatieve to conventionally fractionated therapy.