The Molecular Biology of Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Soft tissue sarcomas are malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin, encompassing a large spectrum of entities that were historically classified according to their histological characteristics. Over the last decades, molecular biology has allowed a better characterization of these tumors, leading to the incorporation of multiple molecular features in the latest classification of sarcomas as well as to molecularly-guided therapeutic strategies. This review discusses the main uses of molecular biology in current practice for the diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue sarcomas, in addition to perspectives for this rapidly evolving field of research.