Leiomyosarcoma: Principles of management

Abstract

The term soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) embraces more than 50 different sub-types that are often associated with poor prognosis. Only a very limited number of agents are active against STS. Doxorubicin and ifosfamide are widely accepted as the most effective compounds. However, their low response rates and poor impact on the overall survival of the patients illustrate the need for new treatment options. Among them, leiomyosarcomas are one of the most frequently occurring subtypes. In spite of the relatively high incidence of leiomyosarcomas, the overall effectiveness of the currently available systemic treatments is still poor. The heterogeneity of its biological origin, clinical behavior and responsiveness to chemotherapy, together with the scarcity of successful clinical trials, makes the treatment of leiomyosarcoma especially challenging. In addition, the evidencebased treatment for leiomyosarcoma comes from trials in which, in the majority of cases, no distinctions have been made among the different STS sub-types. As a result, every therapeutic decision should be made on an individual basis in collaboration with the patient. The results of new specific histology-designed clinical trials should aid decision making in this complex field.