Diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue sarcomas in adults

The optimal treatment of soft tissue sarcoma remains a challenge for the multidisciplinary approach in modern oncology. Only when a team of experienced clinicians, oncologists, radiotherapists, and oncologic orthopedic surgeons cooperates with the radiologist and the pathologist can optimal treatment be guaranteed. Recent advances in our knowledge of sarcomas have resulted from more detailed analysis of the cytogenetic and molecular changes in the different types of sarcoma. The prognostic significance of many biologic markers is still the subject of ongoing investigations, with sometimes conflicting results. The usefulness of adjuvant radiotherapy in the combined approach for optimal local control of both extremity and trunk sarcomas is confirmed in different studies. the discovery of antitumor activity of taxoids in this disease brings new chemotherapeutic combinations within reach.