Multivitamin Use may Improve Disease-free and Distant Metastasis-free Survival in Patients with Soft Tissue Sarcomas of the Extremity and Chestwall

Abstract

Introduction: Multivitamins (MVT) are used for their potential benefit by patients diagnosed with cancer. There is a paucity of data correlating their use and outcomes in rarer malignancies. Thus, the aim of this study was to correlate MVT use with survival in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Materials and methods: Between 2000-2012, 185 patients with stage I-III STS underwent treatment. Variables were retrospectively analyzed relating to overall (OS), disease-free (DFS), and distant-metastasis free survival (DMFS). Univariate analysis (UVA) was performed using the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis (MVA) was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Median follow-up was 3.6 years. 34% had record of taking a MVT at the time of diagnosis. Of these, 10% developed metastasis compared to 39% who were not taking a MVT at the time of their diagnosis. On UVA, MVT was associated with an improved DFS (p=0.001) and DMFS (p=0.001). On MVA for DFS and DMFS, smoking (p<0.01), stage III tumors (p<0.01), and statin use (p<0.01) were negative predictors, however MVT use (p<0.001 was associated with improved DFS and DMFS. Conclusions: Patients taking a MVT at the time of diagnosis had improved DFS and DMFS in our cohort. This may suggest that MVT use prevents distant metastasis.