Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (Feb 2021)

Immunotherapy for sarcomas: new frontiers and unveiled opportunities

  • Carolyn Nessim,
  • Jean-Simon Diallo,
  • Harsimrat Kaur Birdi,
  • Anna Jirovec,
  • Serena Cortés-Kaplan,
  • Joel Werier,
  • Michele Ardolino

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2020-001580
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 2

Abstract

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Sarcomas are a rare malignancy of mesenchymal tissues, comprizing a plethora of unique subtypes, with more than 60 types. The sheer heterogeneity of disease phenotype makes this a particularly difficult cancer to treat. Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery have been employed for over three decades and, although effective in early disease (stages I–II), in later stages, where metastatic tumors are present, these treatments are less effective. Given the spectacular results obtained by cancer immunotherapy in a variety of solid cancers and leukemias, there is now a great interest in appliying this new realm of therapy for sarcomas. The widespread use of immunotherapy for sarcoma relies on immuno-profiling of subtypes, immunomonitoring for prognosis, preclinical studies and insight into the safety profile of these novel therapies. Herein, we discuss preclinical and clinical data highlighting how immunotherapy is being used in soft tissue sarcoma and bone sarcomas.