Late effects surveillance system for sarcoma patients.

BACKGROUND: In 1998, a prospective multicenter pilot study of the 'Late Effects Surveillance System' (LESS) was started to investigate late effects of patients with Ewing, osteo- or soft-tissue sarcoma.

PROCEDURE: Two hundred thirty patients were included in this pilot study. The patients were treated between 1/1/1998 and 6/30/1999 according to the sarcoma protocols COSS-96, CWS-96, and EICESS-92, the median cumulative doses of the focussed drugs were for cisplatin: 360 mg/m(2), for doxorubicin: 270 mg/m(2), and for ifosfamide: 24 g/m(2). The patients were investigated using an organ related standardized screening methodology. We report on toxicities in the first year after cessation of therapy-the beginning of the patient follow-up-and the feasibility of LESS.

RESULTS: Cardiotoxicity: 16/129 (12%) patients treated with doxorubicin exhibited a reduced systolic heart function (fractional shortening (FS) <29%). Altogether three patients required cardiac drug therapy. Ototoxicity: In 5/73 (7%) patients treated with cisplatin a hearing deficit <4 kHz (>20 dB) was found. One patient needed a hearing aid. Nephrotoxicity: 2 of 214 (1%) patients treated with ifosfamide suffered from a tubulopathy, which required supplementation therapy. 10/50 (20%) showed a reduced fractional phosphate reabsorption. Incidence of hypomagnesemia was significantly increased in patients additionally treated with cisplatin.

CONCLUSIONS: Some relevant impairments are noted in the first year after antineoplastic therapy. We expect to detect more major late sequelae in our prospective study during the increasing posttherapeutic interval. Our pilot study shows the feasibility of the methodology.