Study Finds Radiation Therapy Administered Before Surgery Rarely Shrinks Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Tumors - Takeaways - MDSpire

Study Finds Radiation Therapy Administered Before Surgery Rarely Shrinks Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Tumors

According to new research from Fox Chase Cancer Center, radiation therapy administered before surgery rarely produces favorable responses in patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS), a rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the abdomen. The study reinforces findings from a major international clinical trial and suggests that, due to ineffectiveness, radiation should not be used to shrink tumors before surgery.

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  • January 14, 2026

  • 4 min

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  • 1

    Only 4.5% of retroperitoneal sarcoma patients experienced meaningful tumor shrinkage with pre-surgical radiation therapy.

  • 2

    Over 75% of patients showed no significant change in tumor size, while 18% experienced tumor growth during radiation treatment.

  • 3

    Radiation therapy did not reduce surgical complexity, with no differences in operative time, blood loss, or organs removed.

  • 4

    The study supports moving directly to surgery without preoperative radiation for most retroperitoneal sarcoma patients.

  • 5

    Findings align with the STRASS trial, reinforcing the ineffectiveness of pre-surgical radiation for retroperitoneal sarcoma.

Original Source(s)

Study Finds Radiation Therapy Administered Before Surgery Rarely Shrinks Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Tumors

  • by

  • January 14, 2026

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