Molecularly targeted therapies in adult soft tissue sarcomas: present approach and future directions.

BACKGROUND: Sarcomas are rare neoplasms. Given the overwhelming chemotherapy resistance of the disease, patients with progressive and metastatic soft tissue sarcomas are ideal candidates for trials of investigational new drugs. OBJECTIVE: The authors review the molecular mechanisms underlying soft tissue sarcomas and discuss molecularly targeted therapies developed to improve the poor outcome of these uncommon tumors. METHODS: A Medline and American Society of Clinical Oncology abstract search was conducted using the keyword 'soft tissue sarcoma'. Articles and abstracts were reviewed and eligible for inclusion if they used targeted therapies for the treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcomas. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: Phase II clinical trials for patients with soft tissue sarcomas using novel targets and present recognized targets are ongoing and planned.