Advances in the diagnosis and management of sarcomas.
Advances in the molecular biology and importance of tumor suppressor genes in the development and tumor progression of sarcomas are reflected in the literature of 1990. In particular, the discovery of tumor suppressor gene syndromes, such as Rb1 gene and p53 gene defects manifested in "cancer families," were made possible by their association with sarcomas, otherwise rare tumors. It is growing clear that these genes are involved in some way in sporadic cases as well. Treatment for soft tissue sarcomas has not progressed as well. While function-preserving surgery with radiotherapy has been established, the utility of chemotherapy has been limited by the lack of active drugs. Greater efforts are needed in the clinic-laboratory interface to determine the mechanisms of this resistance and ways to circumvent them.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
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D006801:Humans; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy