Place de la chimiothérapie dans le traitement des sarcomes des tissus mous de l'adulte

: Soft tissue sarcomas of adults represent an heterogeneous group of rare malignant tumors, for which clinical and histopathological prognostic factors are now well defined. The GTNM classification recommended by the UICC is effectively predictive for the metastatic potential of these diseases. Although chemotherapy still have limits in advanced sarcomas, the efficacy level reached allows to consider its use with a curative intend, in multidisciplinary therapeutic program. A critical analysis of the studies already published shows that adjuvant chemotherapy can reduce the distant metastases rate in patients presenting an operable primary tumor. Furthermore, the preliminary results of a study indicate that neoadjuvant (induction) chemotherapy may be of value for primarily inoperable patients. All these encouraging results remain to be confirmed by further studies with a long-term follow up of the patients.