Serum albumin is an independent prognostic factor for survival in soft tissue sarcomas.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue sarcomas are rare tumors with a wide clinical spectrum. Prognostic factors for survival have been identified, but they have been focused in the characteristics of the tumor. Patient related variables have not usually been considered in previous analysis.

METHODS: We analyzed a group of 61 patients with soft tissue sarcomas. Tumor related variables and patient related ones were recorded. Overall and disease free survival were calculated according to the Kaplan and Meier method. Prognostic factors for survival were determined by the log-rank method for univariate analysis and the Cox method for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS: Clinical and demographic characteristics are comparable to those of previous reports. Adverse prognostic factors for overall survival in multivariate analysis were advanced stage, high tumor grade, irresecability, and serum albumin. Size, high surgical risk (ASA III-IV) and a low performance status (Karnofsky less than 70) were predictive of overall survival only in univariate analysis. For disease free survival, only high tumor grade had statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS: Besides the usual tumor related prognostic factors, such as grade and stage, patient related factors, such as performance status and surgical risk should be considered when predicting survival. Specifically, serum albumin was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival.