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Updated: May 1, 2026
A Mouse Model of Incompletely Resected Soft Tissue Sarcoma for Testing Neoadjuvant Therapies
Published on: July 28, 2020
[Medical treatment of soft tissue sarcomas based on the histological subtype]
1Onkológiai Osztály, MH-Egészségügyi Központ, Budapest, Hungary. zspapai@gmail.com.
Abstract:
The medical treatment of adult soft tissue sarcomas is more and more dictated by the histological subtype, this applies to both cytotoxics and target therapies. Doxorubicin and ifosfamid are the two drugs used either in monotherapy or combination with the best established response rates in adult soft tissue sarcomas for several years. In addition to these compounds there is evidence of efficacy of new drugs such as taxanes in angiosarcoma, gemcitabine+taxanes combination in leiomyosarcomas, trabectedin in leiomyosarcomas and liposarcomas with an extremely high activity in myxoid liposarcoma. With regard to target therapy pazopanib seems especially active in leiomyosarcomas and synoviosarcomas, but totally inactive in liposarcomas, sunitinib and cediranib in alveolar soft part sarcomas, sunitinib and bevacizumab+temozolamide combination in solitary fibrous tumors, and sorafenib in angiosarcomas. mTOR inhibitors are active in PEComas (perivascular epitheloid cell tumors) and crizotinib in ALK rearranged inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors. The efficacy of imatinib and sunitinib in GIST tumors are established, and that of imatinib in dermatofibrosarcoma as well.
Insights
Treatment for adult soft tissue sarcomas now depends on subtype, with established drugs like doxorubicin and ifosfamide, and newer agents showing promise in specific sarcoma types.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical treatment of sarcomas
Context:
- Adult soft tissue sarcoma treatment is increasingly tailored to histological subtypes.
- Doxorubicin and ifosfamide are established chemotherapeutics for various soft tissue sarcomas.
Purpose:
- To review current and emerging medical treatments for adult soft tissue sarcomas based on histological classification.
- To highlight the efficacy of specific cytotoxic and targeted therapies across different sarcoma subtypes.
Summary:
- Chemotherapy regimens like doxorubicin and ifosfamide remain mainstays, with new drugs such as taxanes, gemcitabine, and trabectedin demonstrating efficacy in specific subtypes like angiosarcoma and liposarcoma.
- Targeted therapies show varied activity: pazopanib is effective in leiomyosarcomas and synoviosarcomas but not liposarcomas; sunitinib and cediranib are noted for alveolar soft part sarcomas; imatinib and sunitinib are established for GIST and dermatofibrosarcoma.
Impact:
- This review provides a comprehensive overview of subtype-specific treatments for adult soft tissue sarcomas.
- It aids clinicians in selecting appropriate cytotoxic and targeted therapies, potentially improving patient outcomes.
