Distinct epidemiology and treatment outcomes between skeletal and extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma in Japan: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND

Ewing sarcoma arises at both skeletal (SES) and extraskeletal (EES) sites; however, whether the anatomical origin influences outcomes in current practice remains uncertain. This study compared clinical characteristics, treatment, and survival rates of patients with SES and EES in a large nationwide Japanese cohort.

METHODS

We analyzed patients diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma between 2016 and 2019 in Japan, classified as having SES or EES, using a population-based cancer registry. Demographics, stage, treatment, hospital characteristics, and overall survival (OAS) were evaluated using chi-square tests, Kaplan-Meier estimates, and log-rank analyses.

RESULTS

We identified 505 patients with ES: 211 with SES and 294 with EES. Patients with EES were significantly older than those with SES (P < .001). Chemotherapy (97.7% vs. 74.9%, P < .001) and radiotherapy (36.6% vs. 27.1%, P = .024) were administered more frequently in the SES group. Three-year OAS rate was 62.3%, 73.5% for SES, and 54.7% for EES, with significantly worse survival in EES group (P < .001). Favorable prognostic factors included younger age, localized stage, surgery, chemotherapy, treatment at certified institutions, higher hospital volume, and female sex among patients with EES.

CONCLUSIONS

In this nationwide cohort, EES presented at older ages, received less chemotherapy, and demonstrated inferior survival compared to SES, despite a similar stage distribution. Patient background, hospital type, and volume influenced the outcomes. These findings underscore the need for equitable multimodal therapy delivery, particularly for patients with EES.