Soft tissue sarcomas are a family of more than 70 rare cancers that start in muscle, fat, blood vessels, or connective tissue. About 13,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed each year. Surgery is the main treatment, often combined with radiation. Chemotherapy helps some subtypes, and immunotherapy has shown activity in certain cases.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing targeted therapies matched to specific sarcoma subtypes and genetic changes, immune checkpoint inhibitors alone or with other drugs, CAR-T cells engineered to recognize sarcoma proteins, and new chemotherapy combinations. Researchers are also studying tumor profiling to match each person's sarcoma to the most relevant treatment, since different subtypes behave differently.
Subtype-specific targeted drugs
New drugs target molecular changes in specific sarcoma subtypes—like trabectedin and lurbinectedin for certain soft tissue sarcomas, and agents targeting ALK fusions or other mutations. Matching drug to subtype is becoming standard.
Engineered T-cell therapies
CAR-T cells are being engineered to recognize proteins like NY-ESO-1 found on synovial sarcoma and myxoid liposarcoma. Early trials show some tumors shrinking, though the approach is still experimental.
Checkpoint inhibitors
Drugs like pembrolizumab work in some sarcomas, especially those with high mutation burden or PD-L1 expression. Trials are testing combinations with other drugs to improve response rates.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on sarcoma subtype, tumor location and size, whether the cancer has spread, prior treatments, and in some trials, specific genetic mutations or biomarkers.
What types of trials are currently open
- Targeted therapy trials — Testing drugs aimed at specific mutations or molecular changes in particular sarcoma subtypes, often using tumor genetic testing to guide treatment.
- Immunotherapy trials — Testing checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cells, or vaccines to help the immune system recognize and attack sarcoma cells.
- Chemotherapy trials — Testing new chemotherapy drugs or combinations, often for sarcomas that have grown despite surgery or standard treatment.
- Surgery and radiation trials — Testing new surgical techniques, radiation schedules, or combinations with drugs to improve local control of the tumor.
- Biomarker studies — Collecting tumor samples and following people over time to identify which genetic changes predict treatment response.
Recently added Soft Tissue Sarcoma trials
Take a modified chemotherapy regimen for relapsed lymphoma
This Phase III randomized controlled trial evaluates the effectiveness and toxicity profile of a modified DHAP regimen compared to the standard DHAP regimen in adult patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The DHAP regimen (cisplatin, cytarabine, dexamethasone) is widely used as salvage therapy but is associated with significant toxicities, including renal dysfunction and severe myelosuppression. The modified DHAP protocol fractionates cisplatin and cytarabine administration to reduce nephrotoxicity, improve tolerability, and potentially allow outpatient treatment. A total of 74 patients will be randomized (37 per arm) to receive either the modified or standard DHAP regimen. The primary endpoint is overall response rate (ORR) assessed by RECIL 2017 criteria. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS), toxicity incidence and severity graded by CTCAE, and quality of life measured by EORTC QLQ-C30. The study anticipates that the modified DHAP regimen will demonstrate comparable or superior efficacy with reduced severe toxicities, shorter hospital stays, and improved patient satisfaction. Findings may support transitioning DHAP into outpatient administration, optimizing healthcare resource utilization in Pakistan.
Stress and Anxiety Before Biopsy, After Biopsy Results, and During Treatment in Patients With Suspected Bone or Soft Tissue Cancer
This prospective observational study will follow adults who are scheduled for a clinically indicated biopsy because of a suspected solid tumor involving bone or soft tissue. The period before biopsy, the disclosure of pathology results, and the start of treatment may be associated with changing levels of psychological stress and anxiety. The purpose of the study is to compare psychological stress and anxiety in the same participants at three points in their care: before biopsy, after the pathology result or diagnosis is explained, and at treatment initiation. The investigators hypothesize that psychological questionnaire scores will differ across these three time points and may be associated with age, sex, disease stage, metastasis status, and treatment type. Participants will complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Distress Thermometer. The study team will also collect relevant demographic and routine clinical information from medical records. The study will not assign any biopsy, diagnostic procedure, or treatment. All diagnostic and treatment decisions will be made by the treating clinical team as part of routine care.
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