Evidence for the Current Management of Soft-tissue Sarcoma and Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors and Emerging Directions

Soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) is not a single entity but, rather, a family of diseases with differing biologic behaviors and anatomic site- and histotype-specific responses to treatment. Whereas surgery remains the mainstay of treatment of primary, localized disease, evolving evidence is establishing the role of multimodality treatment of these tumors. This article summarizes prospective evidence to date informing our treatment of STS. Key future directions will include advancing our understanding of fundamental tumor biology and mechanisms of response and recurrence, as well as defining the optimal provision of regional, systemic, and targeted therapies, including the role of immunotherapy. Ongoing global collaborations will be integral to progress in treating these rare tumors.