Prognostic Factors Related to Histopathological Diagnosis of Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Meta-Analysis

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Background: With the heterogeneity of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and the significant impact of histological subtype on treatment planning, there is a critical need for robust predictive for strong predictive factors. Treatment options for tumors vary by stage, grade, type, and location, reflecting the significant heterogeneity of STS.Objectives: The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate and quantitatively synthesize the available evidence regarding the prognostic significance of clinico-pathological factors in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STS).Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess overall survival among STS patients between 2010 and 2023. Ten studies were included in the qualitative analysis to execute the meta-analysis.Results: A total of 10 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Higher tumor grade was significantly associated with poor prognosis in patients with soft tissue sarcoma (HR = 3.82, 95% CI: 1.43–10.18, p = 0.022), while larger tumor size was also associated with worse survival (HR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.54–2.35, p = 0.0006). Histological subtype analyses showed variable and non-significant pooled effects with substantial heterogeneity. Overall, tumor grade and tumor size emerged as the most significant prognostic factors in STS patients.Conclusions: Multidisciplinary management by experienced specialists can offer practical advantages for long-term overall survival, even when treatment at high-volume centers requires patients to travel greater distances.