Soft Tissue Sarcoma Burden and Research Productivity: Global Patterns and Disparities, 1990–2021

Background: Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a rare and diverse type of cancer, with a disproportionate incidence and limited global epidemiological studies. This study aims to analyze the long-term trends and epidemiological features of the global burden of STS from 1990 to 2021 and to reveal the global research productivity on STS. Methods: The global burden of STS was analyzed using the methods and results of the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, focusing on incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and corresponding age-standardized rates. We also analyzed STS epidemiological trends using joinpoint and age-period-cohort (APC) methods, and assessed research productivity through a composite metric incorporating funding inputs, scientific outputs, drug development pipelines, and clinical trial activity. Results: In 2021, it was estimated that there were approximately 96,201 cases of sarcoma worldwide, resulting in 50,203 deaths. The age-standardized incidence rate was 1.16 cases per 100,000 population-years (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 1.0-1.41), while the mortality rate stood at 20.54 deaths per 100,000 population-years (95% UI: 17.46-26.09). Socioeconomic gradients were evident, with a higher incidence in high-HDI countries and mortality rates that were twice as high in low-HDI countries than in middle-HDI countries. The impacts of age, period, and cohort on mortality rates varied. The research productivity of STS have generally increased across the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI), but effective treatments remain lacking. Conclusion: The global burden of STS relatively stable from 1990 to 2021, with notable geographic disparities. Global investment in basic research related to sarcomas has increased, but treatment options remain limited.