(P 214) FINANCIAL TOXICITY IN PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF EXTREMITY AND PELVIC SARCOMA TREATMENT

Objective: Financial toxicity in oncology, defined as the economic burden and psychosocial distress of cancer care, has been associated with poor clinical outcomes. Despite high projected treatment costs, data on financial toxicity in patients with sarcoma remain limited. The objective of this study was to characterize financial toxicity in patients with sarcoma, to better inform screening practices in patients with rare cancers requiring complex, multidisciplinary treatment plans.

Methods: We conducted a survey of a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with trunk or extremity sarcomas between 2016-2024. Patients were administered the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST), which has been validated in patients with cancer. Scores ranged from 0-44; financial toxicity was categorized into moderate-to-severe ( < 26), and low-to-none (≥26) groups. Demographic and clinical variables were obtained from electronic medical records. Univariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore variables associated with financial toxicity.

Results: Among 205 participants, 77% reported moderate-to-severe financial toxicity. The odds of financial toxicity were similar across insurance types, race, ethnicity, employment status, income, and geography. Patients were less likely to report financial toxicity if they had soft tissue sarcomas (in comparison with bone sarcomas; OR 0.43 [95% CI 0.18 – 0.98]).

Conclusion: Financial toxicity is highly prevalent among patients with sarcoma. The widespread nature of this financial distress across different patient groups suggests that no specific population is disproportionately affected, underscoring the universal risk of financial toxicity. These findings support exploring universal financial toxicity screening in patients with sarcoma to facilitate timely interventions.

Univariate Logistic Regression

Results: Demographic and Clinical Characteristics as Associative Factors for Financial Toxicity