3.1. Patient characteristics
The clinical characteristics of 154 patients enrolled in EpSSG RMS2005
and 85 patients enrolled in COG ARST0531 are presented in Table
1.
Adverse prognostic factors including tumor size > 5 cm,
advanced IRS Group and tumor location at unfavorable sites, predominated
in both cohorts. Large tumors (>5 cm) were more frequent in
EpSSG than in COG patients: 71% vs 53%, respectively, (p-value
0.0029). IRS Group III tumors were also more frequent in the EpSSG than
in the COG cohort: 93% vs 80%, respectively, (p-value 0.0027).
Tumor location at unfavorable sites (parameningeal, limbs,
bladder-prostate, other sites) (79% in EpSSG and 84% in COG) and
invasiveness (T-stage 2, 60% in EpSSG and 65% in COG), were similar in
both cohorts.
Fusion status of tumors, determined by the presence of FOXO1translocation (regardless of the PAX fusion partner), was
analyzed in 81% of patients in EpSSG and in 93% in COG. FOXO1translocation, when FOXO1 fusion status was known (76% in EpSSG
and 79% in COG), was similar in both series.
Histological analysis of nodal involvement was performed less frequently
(50%) in patients enrolled in EpSSG (nodal biopsy was not mandatory in
RMS2005, except for tumors arising in extremities), as compared to COG
(81%) (p-value 0.0035).