5 Questions on Sarcoma

Soft-tissue sarcomas account for about 1% of all adult and 15% of all pediatric malignancies. To date, more than 50 different histologic subtypes have been identified. Test your knowledge about sarcoma in our latest quiz.

Question 1:

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The correct answer is: D. Gemcitabine

The study, from the Early Phase Trials and Sarcoma Units at Institut Bergonié in Bordeaux, France, found that inhibiting checkpoint kinase 1 with GCD-0575, combined with gemcitabine, resulted in rapid and substantial tumor shrinkage in the first two patients treated as part of a phase I clinical trial. The first patient, who had leiomyosarcoma with extensive metastases in the peritoneum, had a partial response that lasted for 1 year and the second, who had lung metastases, had a complete response that is ongoing 9 months after treatment initiation. Both patients were administered intravenous gemcitabine 250 mg/m² per week instead of the usual 660 mg/m². GDC-0575 was given orally.

Question 2:

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The correct answer is: B. 10% to 15%

The American Cancer Society notes that the World Health Organization’s current classification system “permits use of MFH as an alternative name.”

Question 3:

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The correct answer is: C. 32 per 100,000 person-years

This was compared with 13 suicides per 100,000 person-years in the general population, according to the study. A higher incidence of suicide was observed in men, white patients, those between the ages of 21–30 and 61–70, patients with cancer of the vertebral column and pelvic bones, and within the first 5 years of cancer diagnosis. The authors concluded that “by identifying at-risk patients, we can hope to reduce the incidence of suicide in this population by providing the treatment that these patients need.”

Question 4:

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The correct answer is: D. Extremities, visceral, retroperitoneum, and trunk

According to the guidelines the most common site is the extremities (43%), followed by visceral (19%), retroperitoneum (15%), and trunk (10%).

Question 5:

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The correct answer is: B. Leiomyosarcoma

One study found that leiomyosarcoma was the most frequently diagnosed subtype in patients with a history of hereditary retinoblastoma, with 78% of the leiomyosarcomas diagnosed 30 or more years after the retinoblastoma diagnosis.