# Clinical Characteristics of Complex Karyotype Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A Single-Institution Cohort Study

**Authors:** Eun-Young Lee, June Hyuk Kim, Jong Woong Park, Hyun Guy Kang, Seog-Yun Park, Jiyu Sun, Seo-Young Kim, Ahyoung Cho, Bora Lee, Hye Jin You

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/medicina62020271 · 2026-01-27

## TL;DR

This study compares survival and clinical features of three complex karyotype soft tissue sarcoma subtypes, finding that undifferentiated sarcoma has the worst prognosis.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the clinical heterogeneity of complex karyotype soft tissue sarcomas through a single-institution cohort analysis.

## Key findings

- Undifferentiated sarcoma (US) showed poorer survival compared to myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) and leiomyosarcoma of soft tissue (LMS-ST).
- FNCLCC grade 3 was a significant adverse prognostic factor across all three subtypes.
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was associated with increased risk of death in FNCLCC grade 3 patients.

## Abstract

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of three representative complex karyotype soft tissue sarcoma (STS) subtypes—undifferentiated sarcoma (US, primarily undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS)), myxofibrosarcoma (MFS), and leiomyosarcoma of soft tissue (LMS-ST)—using data from a single-institution cohort. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 124 patients treated at a single tertiary referral center between 2002 and 2024 was conducted. Clinicopathologic characteristics and survival outcomes were analyzed. Kaplan–Meier methods were used to estimate overall survival (OS). Cox proportional hazards regression models were applied to identify independent prognostic factors for survival, incorporating variables such as age, sex, tumor stage, and treatment modality. Results: The cohort comprised 36 cases of US, 64 of MFS, and 24 of LMS-ST. OS and survival after cohort enrollment (S-NCC) were evaluated both by subtype and across the entire cohort to assess potential differences across tumor subgroups. In both univariable and multivariable analyses, US subtypes showed poorer survival than MFS and LMS-ST. FNCLCC grade 3 emerged as a significant adverse prognostic factor for survival across all three subtypes. For FNCLCC grade 3 patients, the presence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was significantly associated with an increased risk of death. Conclusions: Among the three subtypes, US demonstrated the most aggressive clinical course, MFS was notable for frequent local recurrence but relatively favorable survival, and LMS-ST showed intermediate outcomes. These findings highlight the clinical heterogeneity of complex karyotype STS and provide a foundation for future studies integrating molecular and multi-omics data to refine risk stratification and therapeutic strategies.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** undifferentiated sarcoma (MONDO:0005102), myxofibrosarcoma (MONDO:0019202), benign prostatic hyperplasia (MONDO:0010811)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** EWSR1 (EWS RNA binding protein 1) [NCBI Gene 2130] {aka EWS, EWS-FLI1}, SS18 (SS18 subunit of BAF chromatin remodeling complex) [NCBI Gene 6760] {aka SMARCL1, SSXT, SYT}, FUS (FUS RNA binding protein) [NCBI Gene 2521] {aka ALS6, ETM4, FUS1, HNRNPP2, POMP75, TLS}, DDIT3 (DNA damage inducible transcript 3) [NCBI Gene 1649] {aka AltDDIT3, C/EBPzeta, CEBPZ, CHOP, CHOP-10, CHOP10}, FLI1 (Fli-1 proto-oncogene, ETS transcription factor) [NCBI Gene 2313] {aka BDPLT21, EWSR2, FLI-1, SIC-1}
- **Diseases:** US (MESH:D065309), TB (MESH:D014376), prostatitis (MESH:D011472), LMS-ST (MESH:D017695), metastasis (MESH:D009362), benign prostatic disease (MESH:D011469), FNCLCC grade 3 (MESH:D008224), synovial sarcoma (MESH:D013584), UPS (MESH:D017118), HT (MESH:D006973), death (MESH:D003643), sarcomatous (MESH:D018316), hypertrophy (MESH:D006984), URS (MESH:D018208), BPH (MESH:D011470), Ewing sarcoma (MESH:D012512), Soft Tissue and Bone Tumors (MESH:D012983), urinary tract infections (MESH:D014552), obesity (MESH:D009765), LMS (MESH:C537878), STSs (MESH:D012509), metabolic (MESH:D008659), prostate cancer (MESH:D011471), injury to (MESH:D014947), leiomyosarcoma of bone (MESH:D007890), Chronic inflammation (MESH:D007249), morbidities (OMIM:614963), DM (MESH:D003920), Cancer (MESH:D009369), chromosomal abnormalities (MESH:D002869), UPS (MESH:D002277)
- **Chemicals:** S (MESH:D013455), NCC (-)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12941814/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12941814