The Use of Chemotherapy in Soft-Tissue Sarcomas

Abstract

Abstract Learning Objectives After completing this course, the reader will be able to:Identify the role of doxorubicin and ifosfamide in soft tissue sarcomas.Identify the role of newer agents in soft tissue sarcomas.Appreciate the role of adjuvant therapy in the management of soft tissue sarcomas.Appreciate the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the management of soft tissue sarcomas. Access and take the CME test online and receive one hour of AMA PRA category 1 credit at CME.TheOncologist.com The treatment of advanced soft-tissue sarcomas is often palliative, although a subset of patients may be cured or have a long disease-free interval. This paper reviews the historical data over 30 years of treatment that has led to the use of ifosfamide and doxorubicin as the mainstay in the treatment of metastatic disease. These treatments have a high toxicity, relative to other chemotherapeutic regimens, with median response durations on the order of months. Agents developed in the last few years, whose role in the treatment of sarcomas is still evolving, are discussed as well. Finally, we discuss the role of chemotherapy in combination with surgery and radiation in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings.