Role of Immunotherapy in Sarcomas

Abstract

Sarcomas are a group of malignancies of mesenchymal origin with a plethora of subtypes. Given the sheer heterogeneity of various subtypes and the rarity of the disease, the management of sarcomas has been challenging, with poor patient outcomes. Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy have remained the backbone of treatment in patients with sarcoma. The introduction of immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of various solid and hematological malignancies. In this review, we discuss the basics of immunotherapy and the immune microenvironment in sarcomas; various modalities of immunotherapy, like immune checkpoint blockade, oncolytic viruses, cancer-targeted antibodies, vaccine therapy; and adoptive cell therapies like CAR T-cell therapy, T-cell therapy, and TCR therapy.

Keywords: CAR T-cell therapy; TCR therapy; adoptive cell therapy; immune microenvironment; immunotherapy; oncolytic viruses; sarcomas.

Figure 1

CAR T-cell-Leukapheresis, T-cell modification, expansion, and CAR T-cell infusion.

Figure 2

CAR T-cell structure.

Figure 3

TCR.

Figure 4

Oncolytic Viruses.

Figure 5

Cancer Vaccines.