Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Cytotoxic Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy in Osteosarcoma Cells In Vitro
08:04

Cytotoxic Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy in Osteosarcoma Cells In Vitro

Published on: March 18, 2014

Chemotherapeutic approaches to soft tissue sarcomas

J H Edmonson1

  • 1Department of Oncology, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.

Seminars in Surgical Oncology
|September 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Chemotherapy for soft tissue sarcomas shows limited success. Combining chemotherapy with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) demonstrates promising results in early studies for advanced sarcomas.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Oncology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Conventional chemotherapy offers limited efficacy for adult soft tissue sarcomas, with rare cures in advanced cases.
  • Postoperative chemotherapy benefits remain equivocal, even after primary tumor excision.

Observation:

  • Research focuses on achieving complete tumor regressions in metastatic disease for effective adjuvant therapy.
  • New systemic treatment approaches are being evaluated, including immune-stimulating agents.

Findings:

  • Unexpectedly favorable responses observed with chemotherapy combined with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).
  • Ongoing study results suggest potential enhancement of chemotherapy efficacy.

Implications:

  • GM-CSF combination therapy may offer a more effective treatment strategy for advanced soft tissue sarcomas.
  • Further research could translate these findings into improved adjuvant therapies for sarcoma patients.

More Related Videos

Establishment of a Primary Culture of Patient-derived Soft Tissue Sarcoma07:55

Establishment of a Primary Culture of Patient-derived Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Published on: April 11, 2018

A Mouse Model of Incompletely Resected Soft Tissue Sarcoma for Testing (Neo)adjuvant Therapies07:15

A Mouse Model of Incompletely Resected Soft Tissue Sarcoma for Testing (Neo)adjuvant Therapies

Published on: July 28, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.