Systemic Treatment in Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Are We Making a Difference?

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pathology
• Genetics

Background:

• Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are rare cancers originating from mesodermal tissues.
• Over 100 subtypes exist, each with unique clinical behavior and treatment responses.
• Localized STS treatment involves surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, but metastasis is common.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current systemic treatment strategies for soft tissue sarcomas (excluding GISTs).
• To highlight recent advancements in STS therapy.
• To explore future directions in managing advanced metastatic STS.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current systemic therapies for STS.
• Analysis of pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features guiding treatment.
• Examination of anthracycline-based chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

Main Results:

• Anthracycline-based chemotherapy is the primary systemic treatment for advanced STS.
• Survival rates for most advanced STS subtypes remain low despite current therapies.
• Research is expanding treatment options beyond chemotherapy.

Conclusions:

• Histology-specific approaches integrating molecular data are crucial for STS treatment.
• Improving response rates and survival in advanced STS requires novel systemic therapies.
• Targeted therapy and immunotherapy represent promising future directions for STS management.