Uncertainties that threaten the benefit/risk balance in early treatment lines for advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma.

Sarcoma oncologists face many uncertainties which can threaten the benefit/risk balance during early management of patients with advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. This point is illustrated by a clinical case involving an elderly patient with comorbidities and a diagnosis of metastatic leiomyosarcoma. The patient was not a candidate for doxorubicin-based chemotherapy because of his cardiac history and was hesitant about systemic chemotherapy, ultimately expressing a preference for a well-tolerated regimen. After evaluating the treatment alternatives, trabectedin was chosen based on its indication for use in persons unsuited to receive anthracyclines and evidence supporting its efficacy and safety in elderly patients. The patient received 17 cycles of trabectedin for a best response of stable disease with good quality of life.