Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (730 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A connective tissue neoplasm formed by proliferation of mesodermal cells; it is usually highly malignant.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Sarcomas; Sarcoma, Soft Tissue; Sarcomas, Soft Tissue; Soft Tissue Sarcoma; Soft Tissue Sarcomas; Sarcoma, Epithelioid; Epithelioid Sarcoma; Epithelioid Sarcomas.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Neoplasms, Connective and Soft Tissue
- Narrower topics
- Adenosarcoma; Carcinosarcoma; Chondrosarcoma; Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor; Endometrial Stromal Tumors; Fibrosarcoma; Hemangiosarcoma; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous; Leiomyosarcoma; Liposarcoma; Lymphangiosarcoma; Mixed Tumor, Mesodermal; Myosarcoma; Myxosarcoma
- See also
- Avian Sarcoma Viruses
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 160,507 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Sarcoma” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 22,755 of them (14.2%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 77,721 records.
Reviews account for 16,566 records (10.3%) and meta-analyses for 450. Randomized controlled trials number 747 (0.5%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 77,721 |
| 2000-2009 | 26,912 |
| 2010-2019 | 33,119 |
| 2020 onward | 22,755 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 16,566 | 10.3% |
| Meta-analyses | 450 | 0.3% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 747 | 0.5% |
Method: PubMed query "Sarcoma"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in cancer and oncology
Cancer research spans very different kinds of evidence. Laboratory studies in cell lines and animal models reveal mechanisms but often do not translate to patients. Early-phase trials mainly test safety and dosing, while phase 3 randomized trials and their meta-analyses are the usual basis for treatment conclusions. Outcomes also differ in meaning: tumour shrinkage, progression-free survival and overall survival are not interchangeable, and screening studies can be distorted by lead-time and overdiagnosis. When reading a result, check the cancer type and stage studied, the comparison treatment, and which outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New biological insights into osteosarcoma-lessons from single cell sequencing studies | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42091739 · DOI · PMC13149624 |
| Detection of Gene Fusions in Soft Tissue Sarcoma Using Next-Generation Sequencing | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42194972 · DOI · PMC13206013 |
| Immunotherapy in Soft Tissue Sarcomas-An Ongoing Quest | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42505406 · DOI · PMC13406894 |
New biological insights into osteosarcoma-lessons from single cell sequencing studies [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Osteosarcoma (OS), the most frequent primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents, is characterized by substantial inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), constraining the efficacy of both standard chemotherapy and emerging immunotherapies.
- Closing excerpt
- This review summarizes the current landscape of single-cell transcriptomics in OS and highlights methodological challenges in single-cell studies in OS tumors, recent biological insights, and their implication for immunotherapies.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (247 words)
Osteosarcoma (OS), the most frequent primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents, is characterized by substantial inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), constraining the efficacy of both standard chemotherapy and emerging immunotherapies. Recent advances in single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq) have enabled high-resolution profiling of OS tumors, revealing diverse malignant, immune, and stromal cell populations. These studies have identified proliferative, inflammatory, and angiogenic tumor states, immunosuppressive myeloid subsets, exhausted T cells, and complex cell-cell communication networks that contribute to tumor progression and immune evasion. However, several challenges constrain the broader application of single-cell approaches in OS. The mineralized structure of bone tissue complicates dissociation into viable single cells, and the rarity of OS limits access to fresh specimens. Most existing datasets are based on small, heterogeneous cohorts and are generated using diverse protocols, which complicate data integration and comparison. Emerging methods are beginning to overcome these barriers. These include snRNA-seq for frozen and archival tissue, improved dissociation protocols for mineralized tumors, and integration with spatial transcriptomics to retain spatial context. Moving forward, combining single-cell transcriptomics with complementary modalities, such as immune repertoire analysis, chromatin accessibility profiling, and spatial proteo-genomics, combined with functional validation, will provide deeper insights into immune dynamics, regulatory mechanisms, and the cellular architecture of the OS TME. This review summarizes the current landscape of single-cell transcriptomics in OS and highlights methodological challenges in single-cell studies in OS tumors, recent biological insights, and their implication for immunotherapies.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42091739 · DOI · PMC13149624
Detection of Gene Fusions in Soft Tissue Sarcoma Using Next-Generation Sequencing [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- IntroductionSoft tissue sarcomas (STS) exhibit profound molecular heterogeneity.
- Closing excerpt
- In the present series, however, the detected rearrangements did not alter systemic treatment, and the data do not support claims of prognostic, predictive, or therapeutic actionability.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (291 words)
IntroductionSoft tissue sarcomas (STS) exhibit profound molecular heterogeneity. While recurrent gene fusions hold significant diagnostic and therapeutic value-guiding treatment selection and identifying novel molecular targets-our understanding of their broader clinical implications remains limited.Materials and methodsWe performed next-generation sequencing (NGS; FusionPlex Sarcoma v2, Archer™) and bioinformatic analysis (STAR v.2.7, Arriba) on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) core needle biopsy specimens. The cohort consisted of patients enrolled in a phase II clinical trial (NCT03651375) who received preoperative chemoradiotherapy according to the UNRESARC protocol.ResultsThe analysed cohort comprised nine adult patients (median age 66 years; range 44-73) diagnosed with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS; n = 3), malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST; n = 3), myxofibrosarcoma (MFS; n = 2), and leiomyosarcoma (LMS; n = 1), predominantly high-grade (G3; 5/9) and extremity-localised (6/9). Gene fusions were detected in one-third of patients (3/9), exclusively in G3 tumours. Specifically, we identified an SGSH-PRKCA fusion in MFS (thigh), a LINC01133-OGA fusion in MPNST (thorax), and a concurrent JAZF1-MYH7B (chr7:27995037 intronic-chr20:33563203 exon/splice-site, out-of-frame but preserving myosin domains) with a PRKCA-associated intergenic rearrangement (chr1, retaining C1/kinase domains) in UPS (upper back). Notably, the SGSH-PRKCA and JAZF1-MYH7B pairs have not been previously described in the literature for these STS subtypes. Fusion-positive (F1) cases showed stable radiological disease (RECIST 1.1 SD) and EORTC C/D pathological responses with 5-20% residual viable tumour, whereas fusion-negative (F0) cases showed a wider range of radiological and pathological outcomes, including partial response, progression, and stable disease.ConclusionsOur analysis suggests that broad genomic profiling may provide complementary molecular information in diagnostically challenging cases managed at specialised sarcoma centres, particularly when morphology and immunohistochemistry are insufficient. In the present series, however, the detected rearrangements did not alter systemic treatment, and the data do not support claims of prognostic, predictive, or therapeutic actionability.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42194972 · DOI · PMC13206013
Immunotherapy in Soft Tissue Sarcomas-An Ongoing Quest [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are rare and heterogeneous mesenchymal malignancies characterized by diverse molecular profiles and immune landscapes.
- Closing excerpt
- Collectively, the available data support a paradigm shift from a sarcoma cell-centered approach toward a multi-compartment TME-including strategy, providing a framework for the development of more effective and personalized immunotherapeutic strategies in STS.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (192 words)
Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are rare and heterogeneous mesenchymal malignancies characterized by diverse molecular profiles and immune landscapes. Although immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of specific solid tumors, its efficacy in STSs remains limited and variable across histotypes. This review explores the panorama of biomarkers of immunotherapy sensitiveness in STSs, with particular emphasis on tumor-intrinsic features and on tumor microenvironment (TME) signatures. Current evidence highlights low tumor mutational burden, rare microsatellite instability, heterogeneous antigen expression, and epigenetic suppression of antigen presentation as hallmarks of the immune resistance that is characteristic of many STSs. However, growing evidence underlines TME composition as a major determinant of response to different types of immunotherapy. Indeed, the presence of B-cell-rich tertiary lymphoid structures and certain traits of adaptive immune responses are provenly associated with enhanced sensitivity to immunotherapy and enhanced outcomes. We further discuss emerging strategies aimed at enhancing STS immunogenicity, either by increasing intrinsic tumor immunogenicity or remodeling TME composition and functional profile. Collectively, the available data support a paradigm shift from a sarcoma cell-centered approach toward a multi-compartment TME-including strategy, providing a framework for the development of more effective and personalized immunotherapeutic strategies in STS.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42505406 · DOI · PMC13406894
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Progression-free survival in gastrointestinal stromal tumours with high-dose imatinib: randomised trial [4]
- Research article A systematic meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of adjuvant chemotherapy for localized resectable soft-tissue sarcoma [5]
- Research article Fusion gene-negative alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is clinically and molecularly indistinguishable from embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma [6]
- Research article High-dose methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity in patients with osteosarcoma [7]
- Research article Prognostic and predictive factors for outcome to first-line ifosfamide-containing chemotherapy for adult patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas: an exploratory, retrospective analysis on large series from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group (EORTC-STBSG) [8]
- Research article Osteosarcoma: A Meta-Analysis and Review of the Literature [9]
References
- Zehenter JI, Kager L, Eder SK, Taschner-Mandl S, Hinić S. New biological insights into osteosarcoma-lessons from single cell sequencing studies. . 2026. PMID 42091739 · DOI · PMC13149624
- Remiszewski P, Bobak K, Piątkowski J, Golik P, Tysarowski A, Seliga K, et al.. Detection of Gene Fusions in Soft Tissue Sarcoma Using Next-Generation Sequencing. . 2026. PMID 42194972 · DOI · PMC13206013
- Cobeña S, Esperança-Martins M, Syder Queiroz A, Melo-Alvim C, Costa L. Immunotherapy in Soft Tissue Sarcomas-An Ongoing Quest. . 2026. PMID 42505406 · DOI · PMC13406894
- Verweij J, Casali PG, Zalcberg J, LeCesne A, Reichardt P, Blay JY, et al.. Progression-free survival in gastrointestinal stromal tumours with high-dose imatinib: randomised trial. Lancet. 2004. PMID 15451219 · DOI
- Pervaiz N, Colterjohn N, Farrokhyar F, Tozer R, Figueredo A, Ghert M. A systematic meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of adjuvant chemotherapy for localized resectable soft-tissue sarcoma. Cancer. 2008. PMID 18521899 · DOI
- Williamson D, Missiaglia E, de Reyniès A, Pierron G, Thuille B, Palenzuela G, et al.. Fusion gene-negative alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is clinically and molecularly indistinguishable from embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. J Clin Oncol. 2010. PMID 20351326 · DOI
- Widemann BC, Balis FM, Kempf-Bielack B, Bielack S, Pratt CB, Ferrari S, et al.. High-dose methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity in patients with osteosarcoma. Cancer. 2004. PMID 15139068 · DOI
- Sleijfer S, Ouali M, van Glabbeke M, Krarup-Hansen A, Rodenhuis S, Le Cesne A, et al.. Prognostic and predictive factors for outcome to first-line ifosfamide-containing chemotherapy for adult patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas: an exploratory, retrospective analysis on large series from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group (EORTC-STBSG). Eur J Cancer. 2010. PMID 19853437 · DOI
- Friebele JC, Peck J, Pan X, Abdel-Rasoul M, Mayerson JL. Osteosarcoma: A Meta-Analysis and Review of the Literature. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2015. PMID 26665241
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.