Survival Outcomes in Cutaneous Angiosarcoma: A Meta Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous angiosarcoma is a rare, aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis and limited evidence guiding treatment. Optimal therapy remains undefined due to disease heterogeneity and a lack of large prospective trials.

OBJECTIVE

To assess survival outcomes across treatment modalities and clinical stages in patients with angiosarcoma using a meta-analysis.

METHODS

A systematic search identified studies reporting treatment and outcome data for cutaneous angiosarcoma. Patient-level data from 159 patients across 9 studies were extracted. Patients were stratified into early-stage and mid/late-stage. Statistical analyses included Kaplan-Meier estimates, Cox regression, and subgroup comparisons of recurrence, metastasis, and survival.

RESULTS

Early-stage patients showed longer average survival-as well as delayed recurrence and metastasis-compared with mid/late-stage patients; differences were not statistically significant. Tumor location was the strongest predictor of survival in advanced-stage disease, while age predicted mortality in early-stage, with younger patients having improved survival. Treatment modality and surgical type were not independently associated with survival.

CONCLUSION

Tumor location and patient age are important prognostic factors in angiosarcoma. Treatment modality did not significantly affect survival or recurrence, supporting individualized treatment and further investigation into survival determinants.