Aim: To examine and understand patient characteristics, treatment patterns and outcomes for patients with metastatic synovial sarcoma (mSS) treated in a US community setting. Materials & methods: Retrospective observational study in adults with mSS in The US Oncology Network (diagnosed January 2012-December 2018). Results: Of 202 patients diagnosed with synovial sarcoma (SS), 71 had mSS. Of 39 patients with mSS who received first-line (1L) systemic treatment, 25 and 16 continued to 2L and 3L+ treatment, respectively. With each subsequent treatment line, time-to-treatment-discontinuation (1L-3L: 3.9-2.7 months) and time-to-next-treatment (1L-3L: 9.3-4.6 months) decreased. At 1L, median overall survival was 24.5 months. Conclusion: This study highlights the ongoing need for effective therapies for mSS.
Keywords: metastasis; outcomes research; real world evidence; sarcoma.
Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare and aggressive type of soft tissue sarcoma (STS), a group of rare cancers that start in the soft tissues, such as muscle, tendons, fat, lymph and blood vessels and nerves. Usually STS presents in one location, and frequently spreads to other locations, referred to as metastatic SS (mSS). Many studies have explored the characteristics, treatments and outcomes of people with STS. Yet, a limited number of studies have been performed specifically for people with mSS. This study aims to describe characteristics, treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of people with mSS treated in a US community setting. The study showed that more than a third of people diagnosed with SS had disease that spread, mostly to the lung. Of the 71 people with mSS included in the analysis, 39 people received chemotherapy. Of these, 25 people with mSS needed second-line chemotherapy and a further 16 people with mSS required third-line treatment. People with mSS who did not respond well to chemotherapy received a variability of treatments in the US community setting. More lines of treatment were associated with shorter time-to-next-treatment and reduced survival time. Together, these findings highlight the burden of illness and the need for more effective treatments for people with this rare disease. Investigating the characteristics, treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of people with mSS can help to understand the unmet need in this population and pave the way to improving future treatment approaches.