Sarcomas of Soft Tissue

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) comprise a group of relatively rare tumors with over 100 subtypes that have anatomically and histologically diverse properties. Molecularly, each subtype of sarcoma is distinct with individual subtypes, some of which contain translocations, while others demonstrate complex cytogenetics. There is an association between some sarcoma subtypes and genetic predisposition syndromes. The treatment of sarcomas requires multidisciplinary planning that not only is comprised of surgeons, radiotherapists and medical oncologists, but also a pathologist with extensive experience in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors. This chapter will review management from diagnosis, to surgery and/or radiation, and the use of chemotherapy for the treatment of sarcoma. In addition, it will review the palliative use of chemotherapy and targeted agents in the metastatic setting with a focus on individual sarcoma subtypes. Finally, the data for the FDA approved agents for the treatment of sarcoma and their indications will be reviewed.