Targeting the Molecular and Immunologic Features of Leiomyosarcoma

Abstract

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare, aggressive mesenchymal tumor with smooth muscle differentiation. LMS is one of the most common histologic subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma; it most frequently occurs in the extremities, retroperitoneum, or uterus. LMS often demonstrates aggressive tumor biology, with a higher risk of developing distant metastatic disease than most sarcoma histologic types. The prognosis is poor, particularly in patients with uterine disease, and there is a need for the development of more effective therapies. Genetically, LMS is karyotypically complex and characterized by a low tumor mutational burden, with frequent alterations in TP53, RB1, PTEN, and DNA damage response pathways that may contribute to resistance against immune-checkpoint blockade monotherapy. The LMS immune microenvironment is highly infiltrated with tumor-associated macrophages and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, which may represent promising biomarkers. This review provides an overview of the clinical and pathologic behavior of both soft tissue and uterine LMS and summarizes the genomic and immune characteristics of these tumors and how they may provide opportunities for the development of biomarker-based immune therapies.

Keywords: biomarker; immune microenvironment; immune-checkpoint blockade; leiomyosarcoma; targeted therapy.

Figure 1

Hematoxylin-and-eosin slides of different leiomyosarcoma subtypes at 20× magnification. (a) Well-differentiated soft tissue leiomyosarcoma; (b) Dedifferentiated soft tissue leiomyosarcoma; (c) Uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Figure 2

Molecular alterations and immune microenvironment associated with molecular subtypes of LMS.