title: Recent advances in understanding and managing leiomyosarcomas.
abstract: Leiomyosarcomas are malignant mesenchymal tumours that derive from the smooth muscle lineage. They are studied and frequently treated as if they are the same as other soft tissue sarcomas. Recent developments suggest that a different approach may be more appropriate. Their underlying genetic mechanisms remain unclear, and complex. Unbalanced karyotypic defects are the only shared features observed across different leiomyosarcoma subtypes. Unlike other soft tissue sarcomas, leiomyosarcomas are particularly sensitive to the combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel. Furthermore, treatment with trabectedin has shown a good efficacy in leiomyosarcomas, mainly in the form of chronic disease stabilisation.
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université (AMU), Service d'Oncologie médicale CHU la Timone Boulevard J Moulin 13005 Marseille France.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duffaud
authors.affiliation: Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, Oncologie Médicale, Centre Leon Bérard 28 rue Laennec, 69008 Lyon France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ray-Coquard
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université (AMU), Service d'Oncologie médicale CHU la Timone Boulevard J Moulin 13005 Marseille France.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salas
authors.affiliation: Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus 114 Rue E Vaillant, 94805 Villejuif France.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pautier